By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
A tax issue for senior services will appear on the November ballot – as more and more county voters become eligible for the services provided.
The Wood County Committee on Aging governing board voted unanimously today to place a tax levy on the fall ballot. The single ballot issue will have two parts – the renewal of the current 0.7 mills, and a new 0.3 mills.
Senior service levies in Wood County have a history of strong voter support. In 2011, the renewal passed with 70% of the vote, and in 2016 it garnered close to 76% support.
Denise Niese, executive director of the Wood County Committee on Aging, said after today’s meeting that voters are never taken for granted.
“Anytime you’re on the ballot,” it’s natural to worry, she said. “We just hope they understand the impact of the vote.”
Many of the senior services are very visible, Niese pointed out.
The WCCOA operates eight senior centers across Wood County providing essential services to older adults. In 2020, the agency delivered 204,508 meals to homebound seniors throughout the coronavirus pandemic. These deliveries also serve as a daily safety check for the individuals enrolled.
Once COVID restrictions are lifted by the state, congregate meals will once again be served up at all eight of the senior centers. In 2019, the WCCOA served 71,089 meals at the centers. Nutritious, hot lunches provide one-third of the required daily dietary requirement for those who attend.
Additionally, the agency offers round-trip non-emergency medical escorts, loans of durable medical equipment, social services support from WCCOA social workers and registered nurse, wellness and educational programming, and opportunities for socialization.
This levy renewal with additional millage will ensure that vital services that Wood County’s older adults have come to expect will be delivered for years to come, Niese said.
Board President Eric Myers explained the additional millage is needed to keep up with increasing costs of providing services.
“Everything is starting to cost more,” including day-to-day expenses such as food production and delivery, mortgage and leases, utility bills, supplies, salaries and benefits for staff, and programming for older adults.
During 2020, the senior services levy supported 63% of WCCOA’s operating budget.
“The levy is the reason why we can operate,” Niese said.
The raw food costs for this year are expected to hit $675,000, according to Niese.
“This is our highest line item, other than personnel,” she said.
The staff of 42 people covers an area of 617 square miles with home-delivered meals and medical escorts.
“We are providing much needed services for very reasonable costs for the citizens of Wood County,” Niese said.
Such services are not available in many counties, she added.
“If you were to visit other counties, you would not see the services we have here,” Niese said.
This is the first request for an increase in millage since November 2002, when the present 0.7 mill levy was initially passed by voters. Under Ohio law, property taxes are reduced so that the real property tax of the average homeowner for a voted millage will not be increased as a result of reappraisals or updates. Due to this, the current 0.7 mill levy now collects at 0.57 mills. The requested renewal of the levy, with an additional 0.3 mills, will collect at an effective rate of 0.87 mills.
The current levy collects $17.21 annually from the owner of a $100,000 home. The new proposed millage will increase that property owner’s annual taxes by $10.50.
The current levy generates about $2.2 million a year for senior services. The requested renewal, with the addition of 0.3 mills, would generate $3.36 million annually.
Property owners receive non-business credits and owner-occupied credits on existing levies passed by the voters before 2013. If a levy is replaced, those credits are eliminated. If a levy is renewed, even with the addition of new millage, the credits remain intact. So the renewal with additional millage retains those credits for property owners, and maximizes the levy’s yield.
“By doing it this way, we are protecting our own clients,” Myers said.
Niese explained that the Wood County Committee on Aging must look beyond today.
“Our baby boomer generation are the ones that are accessing our services now,” she said. “We have to plan for the future. Many of us won’t be here in 15 to 20 years, but we have to plan for those who come after us.”
Myers advised the board members that they would all be called upon to help with the levy passage.
“This will have to be a team effort in order to get this passed in our county,” he said.
