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New Mahoning County senior levy going on ballot
YOUNGSTOWN
Mahoning County voters in March will decide on a new 1-mill, five-year senior citizen services real-estate tax levy, which would generate about $4.1 million a year.
County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution Thursday to place the measure on the March 15 ballot.
“To me, that levy shows compassion, and we are a compassionate community. We’re a benevolent community,” said Anthony Traficanti, chairman of the commissioners.
“This would be a worthwhile investment for the community,” state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, said of the levy during the commissioners’ meeting.
The deadline for submission of such measures to the board of elections is Wednesday.
The proposed levy, which would fund services to people age 60 and up, would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $36 a year.
The revenue from this levy would be kept separate from the county’s general fund, said Audrey Tillis, county budget director.
If it passes in March 2016, collections of revenue from the senior levy would begin with the first half tax bills in 2017.
It would pay for services such as adult day care, chore services, home repair and maintenance, homemaker, protective and personal care services, medication management, guardianships and home-delivered and congregate meals.
Currently, about $900,000 in federal money and $300,000 in state money annually pays for those services in Mahoning County, said Joseph Rossi, executive director of Area Agency on Aging 11.
What levy voters will see on the March 15 ballot is smaller than the 1.5 mills proposed to the commissioners last month by the Area Agency and Compass Family and Community Services.
Commissioner Carol Rimedio-Righetti said the commissioners approved 1 mill because it is more affordable for residents than 1.5 mills.
Rossi said the 1 mill is more comparable to senior levies in adjacent counties. Senior levies are 0.75 mill in Trumbull County; 0.50 in Columbiana County and 1 mill in Ashtabula County.
Some 27 percent of Mahoning County’s population of 229,484 is over age 60, Rossi told the commissioners.
“We have waiting lists every day for people that need services,” Rossi said, adding that 310 people are now on the waiting list for personal care assistance with bathing, dressing and toileting; and 300 are on the waiting list for home repair and modification.
“The senior levy in Mahoning County would ensure that the needs of these residents can be met and they can remain in the community, where they want to be,” Rossi said.
With the extra $4.1 million a year from the levy, waiting lists for these services likely would be eliminated, Rossi said.
The Area Agency’s administration and oversight fee won’t exceed 5 percent of levy collections, and could be considerably less than that if the Area Agency can use quarters the county already rents or owns to house administrative staff, Rossi said.
“Our goal is not to make money for the Area Agency on Aging. Our goal is to provide services for senior citizens,” he said.
If the levy passes, Tillis said the county is considering using space in the county-owned Oakhill Renaissance Place to house that administrative staff near the county’s Department of Job and Family Services and Veterans Service Commission offices.
Ed Reese, former Mahoning County commissioner, and his wife, Diane, have made an initial contribution of $10,000 to the levy campaign.