MAHONING COUNTY Job to end for liaison for seniors

The council on aging will officially end April 30.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County commissioners formally did away with their senior citizens' liaison Thursday.
They also rejected a state lawmaker's request to provide funding for a humane officer.
Commissioners announced last week that they were abolishing the county's Council On Aging at the end of this month because of funding constraints. The council was created by commissioners in November 1989 to develop programs for the elderly.
The lone employee, Director Kerry Collins, will be laid off April 30. Collins has been director since 1998.
The department's annual budget is about $85,000, which includes Collins' salary of $27,473 a year, and about $40,000 for a prescription assistance program.
Commissioners said that with the anticipated loss of some $12.5 million a year from the general fund, beginning next year, they can no longer afford to operate the senior advocacy office.
Why the loss of funds?
The loss of revenue is because a 0.5-percent sales tax expires at the end of this year. Voters rejected a five-year renewal in March, and the measure will be back on the ballot in November.
Commissioners voted unanimously and without comment to abolish Collins' position.
Commissioners also rejected a request from state Sen. Robert F. Hagan to provide funding for a humane officer. In a letter he sent to commissioners April 3, Hagan said numerous county residents have expressed concern about the "glaring lack" of animal-abuse investigators in the county.
Hagan said the county has only one countywide animal-abuse investigator, who works for Animal Charities. He said that's not enough to adequately patrol the county for animal abuse cases, and asked commissioners to either provide Animal Charities with money to assist with investigations, or to re-establish a county humane agency.
Commissioner Ed Reese said the humane agency was eliminated several years ago and that the county does not have money to fund either of Hagan's proposals.
bjackson@vindy.com