County steps in on SCOPE bill payment

WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners approved spending $65,400 of senior citizen levy dollars to fund the SCOPE Inc. Prescription Drug Assistance Program.
Janet Schweitzer, director of SCOPE Inc., said Wednesday the agency had tried continue the program with its own funds through the first five months of the year. SCOPE had hoped the new Senior Citizens Advisory Council would get up and running quickly enough to pay for the program.
The advisory council will oversee the spending of the senior citizen levy dollars, approved by voters last November. But the council is still not completely in place and can't spend money, so the commissioners had to fill the gap, she explained.
The seniors levy will generate $2.6 million annually for a variety of services in Trumbull County, for people ages 60 and over.
Schweitzer said the six-year-old prescription assistance program provides free prescription drugs to about 1,000 low-income county residents, saving the participants millions of dollars. Those interested in the program should contact SCOPE by calling (330) 399-8846 is Warren, (330) 544-3676 in Niles or (330) 609-7806 in Howland or visit www.warrenpages.com/scope to determine if they are eligible.