Commissioners seek renewal of Trumbull seniors levy

WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners plan to ask voters at the May 4 primary to renew the 0.75-mill, five year seniors levy that expires at the end of 2010.

Adrian Biviano, Trumbull County auditor, says the levy would raise about $2.3 million per year, the same amount it has raised since the beginning of 2005.

The levy has paid for a variety of services for people age 60 and over since voters approved it at the polls in November 2005, such as transportation, home-delivered meals, chore services and a senior Senior Citizens Neighboring Program at the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office.

But the levy has generated controversy, especially from SCOPE, the non-profit agency that runs senior centers throughout the county.

The county commissioners, who oversee spending of the levy money, hired the non-profit Area Agency on Aging to handle day-to-day supervision of the agencies receiving levy money.

AAA said SCOPE was billing for services at a higher rate than it should, leading to an agreement that required SCOPE to repay $90,000.

AAA has since withdrawn as administrator over the levy.

Commissioner Dan Polivka said the levy has helped a lot of senior citizens and their families.

“There have been a few issues, but for the most part, it’s been run pretty smoothly,” he said.