Hamilton Co. voters approve Senior Services levy

HAMILTON COUNTY - Hamilton County residents overwhelmingly voted in support of the elderly members of its community on Tuesday.

Nearly 75 percent of voters approved Issue 50, a renewal of the Senior Services levy that provides services that help seniors remain independent and in their own homes.

“Once again, the voters have given a resounding ‘Yes’ to the frail seniors of our community,” CEO of Council on Aging Suzanne Burke said in a press release. “Because of your support, thousands of local seniors can remain in their own homes and avoid unnecessary placement in nursing homes."

Burke’s organization administers the levy program for the Hamilton County Commissioners.

The levy funds the Hamilton County Elderly Services Program, which provides Meals on Wheels, transportation to the doctor, emergency call buttons and other basic services for the elderly.

Issue 50 will raise about $19.3 million annually for the next five years.

The program serves more than 7,000 Hamilton County seniors and their families each year, according to Laurie Petrie, the communications director for the Council on Aging in Southwestern Ohio.

“On behalf of our community’s older adults and their families, we thank everyone for their vote of confidence in the Elderly Services Program," Burke said. "As we have done for two decades, we will continue to carefully manage the program with our providers, stretching the taxpayers’ dollars to provide the best services at the lowest cost for as many frail seniors as possible.”

The levy will cost property owners $29.34 annually per $100,000 of property valuation.

According toe Petrie, the renewal will bring in several million dollars less than the previous levy because of lower property values. Petrie says the Council on Aging has already taken steps to save money by tightening eligibility and delivering services more efficiently.