Panel makes plea for passage of first Mahoning County senior services levy

YOUNGSTOWN — The administrative director of an inter-generational community center in Girard made an impassioned plea this morning for Mahoning County voters to take care of their own by passing a new 1-mill, five-year countywide senior citizen services real-estate tax levy March 15.

“Our older family members, our friends, our neighbors, who built this community - they deserve to age independently in their own homes for as long as possible,” said Laura Carey, administrative director of the Girard Multi-generational Center.

The center, whose primary focus is on senior citizen activities and services, is in a former school building and is funded by Trumbull County-wide and Girard senior levies.

“We know that our federal and state resources are severely limited,” Carey told a levy forum at First Presbyterian Church.

“Here, in the Mahoning Valley, we have always had a tradition of taking care of our own,” Carey said. “That senior levy is going to keep that tradition alive in the Mahoning Valley."

The Mahoning County levy, which would generate about $4.1 million annually, would pay for services to people, age 60 and older, including adult day care, chore services, home repair and maintenance, homemaker, protective and personal care services, medication management, guardianships and home-delivered and congregate meals.

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com