By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Wood County’s baby boomers over 60 years old number more than 30,000. That means more seniors are looking for more services.
That’s where the Wood County Committee on Aging comes in – providing everything from meals and yoga classes, to transportation to medical appointments and loans of health care equipment.
“The baby boomers continue to grow,” Denise Niese, executive director of the Wood County Committee on Aging, said Tuesday during a meeting with the county commissioners.
“People are living longer,” Niese said. And many of them want to remain at home.
That means the WCCOA needs more funding to provide services that help local seniors stay in their homes. And that means voters will see a levy on the November ballot for senior services.
The Wood County Committee on Aging’s single ballot issue will have two parts – the renewal of the current 0.7 mills, and a new 0.3 mills.
“I just think it’s absolutely necessary, and hopefully the people of Wood County will, too,” said Colleen Smith, who is working on the levy campaign.
“The services are just wonderful,” Smith said.
WCCOA Board President Eric Myers explained the additional millage is needed to keep up with increasing costs of providing services.
“Like everybody else, our costs are going up,” Myers told the county commissioners.
Paul Herringshaw, a WCCOA board member pointed out that the services go far beyond home-delivered meals, and far beyond Bowling Green – with eight senior centers located throughout the county.
“We provide a lot of services,” he said.
Though many seniors head south for the winter, those “snowbirds” come back to Wood County for much of the year, Niese said.
“This is where their support system is,” she said.
“Many of our surrounding counties don’t offer the services Wood County offers,” said Commissioner Doris Herringshaw.
Before the pandemic, the WCCOA delivered about 550 meals a day. That number has settled at about 750 a day, Niese said. Many seniors are waiting for their local senior centers to open back up, she added.
“The demand for programs is ramping up. People are wanting to get back to our services,” Niese said.
Because Doris Herringshaw’s husband is on the WCCOA board, she had to excuse herself from discussion about the levy request. But the other two commissioners were able to express their support.
“The population of the county has grown and the population you serve has grown faster,” Craig LaHote said. “I think it’s amazing you’ve been able to operate off the same levy since 2002.”
Ted Bowlus echoed those feelings.
“It’s evolved into an all-purpose type of organization,” he said. “I’m very appreciative of what you do.”
Bowlus mentioned the new senior center that recently opened in Bowling Green.
“The new building is amazing. It’s going to serve our community very well,” he said.
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.
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 a 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.
During 2020, the senior services levy supported 63% of WCCOA’s operating budget.
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.
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.
