Impact of Senior Millage Renewal
September 2006
Shorter waiting lists, more services, and more older adults
served. That's the expected result of overwhelming support to renew the Kent
County senior millage. With a 74% favorable vote in the August 8 election,
voters agreed to pay a slightly higher senior millage rate that will generate an
additional $1.3 million for senior services in 2007.
"Most funding increases will go directly to services that help people live
independently at home, such as home delivered meals, personal care, and
transportation," said Jackie O'Connor, assistant director of the Area Agency on
Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM).
The funding process has already begun to distribute the additional senior
millage money. The renewal will increase dollars by 30% to a budget of $6.5
million, which will likely mean new services and additional help for the most
frail clients.
"We always have more requests for funding than we have dollars available. I
envision that we would look seriously at service proposals in which funding from
other sources have been cut, in addition to new services that seniors have long
needed," said O'Connor.
Allegan County passed its first ever senior millage, which will provide seniors
many of the same services that are funded in Kent County. Ionia, Lake, Mason,
Mecosta, and Newaygo all passed millage renewals.
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