League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area Education Fund
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Issue 29 Senior Citizens Services Levy (Renewal and Increase) Hamilton County 135,880 / 69.51% Yes votes ...... 59,593 / 30.49% No votes
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| Information shown below: Summary | | ||||
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A renewal of 1.16 mills and an increase of 0.13 mill to constitute a tax for the benefit of the County of Hamilton, Ohio, for the purpose of PROVIDING OR MAINTAINING A SYSTEM OF HOME CARE THROUGH THE COUNCIL ON AGING OR OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER(S) FOR ELDERLY RESIDENTS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: HOUSEKEEPING, PERSONAL CARE, RESPITE SERVICES (FOR CAREGIVERS), HOME REPAIR/MAINTENANCE, MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION, ADULT DAY CARE, HOME DELIVERED MEALS, CHORE SERVICES, LEGAL COUNSELING, ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT at a rate not exceeding one and twenty nine hundredths (1.29) mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to twelve and nine tenths cents ($0.129) for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five (5) years, commencing in 2007, first due in calendar year 2008. A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage.
What the levy will do: If passed, the Senior Citizens Levy will allow the Council on Aging (COA) to continue to administer its Elderly Services Program (ESP) for Hamilton County. ESP Service delivery described in the COA/County Levy Agreement is administered through contract with 96 agencies/organizations. Services include:
People are living longer and the population is aging. 13.5% of Hamilton County's 2006 population was over 65; an additional 21% was 45-64--that is, approaching the age at which these services will be needed. As people live much longer, greater levels of care are needed to maintain a non-institutionalized life style. The levy increase is requested to fund planning and additional infrastructure in response to these demographic trends. Background: The Council on Aging (COA) was designated as the Area Agency on Aging for Ohio's Planning and Service Area #1 by the State of Ohio in 1974. COA is responsible for assessment and services for a five county area, including administration of Federal and State-Funded programs such as Title III, Senior Centers and Passport. Hamilton County's Elderly Services Program (ESP) began in 1992 with a 1 mill tax levy producing 12.78 Million per year for the first five year term. In 1997, voters approved a replacement and .02 mill increase for a projected increase in the numbers of elderly. This produced $14.5 million per year for a second 5 year period ending in December 2002. In January 2002, the County Commissioners added $1 million to the ESP budget to enable 250 elderly on a waiting list to begin receiving services. In 2002, voters approved a third 5 year replacement and .14 mill increase, providing $18.3 million per year. Tax Levy Review Committee Findings: A Tax Levy Review Committee (TLRC) was formed by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to provide an independent citizen review on tax levy proposals, to hold public meetings and to present findings and recommendations to the BCC. An outside consultant completed a thorough review of related operations and finances, submitting its report to the TLRC on 5/14/07. The TLRC recommended a total of $108, 217,730 for the next five-year period, which includes the usage of $4.8 million of the current levy fund balance. This results in a net recommendation for placement on the November 2007 ballot of a five-year levy of $103 million as follows:
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Created: December 19, 2007 17:42 PST
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