SUPER TUESDAY | Mahoning County levy for seniors passes

YOUNGSTOWN

A new 1-mill, five-year Mahoning County senior citizen services real estate tax levy passed in Tuesday’s election.

“The reason for the passage of the levy is the voters recognize the need for services for older adults,” said Joseph Rossi, chief executive officer of the Niles-based Area Agency on Aging 11, which will administer the levy funds.

“We’re very excited. It’s really a great day for the seniors in Mahoning County, but the hard work begins now — putting together the advisory council and starting the processing of contracting with providers” of services, he said.

The agency will begin seeking this month a Mahoning County office location from which it will administer the programs, he said.

Collections of levy funds will begin with the first half tax collection next year, with services likely to begin in mid-2017, he said.

Supporters of the countywide levy said older people and family members who care for them could look forward to a quality of life improvement if it passed.