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If you live in Kent County, then you likely pay the senior millage tax, but you may not know much about it. What happens to these funds after taxpayers pay them? This is where the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan comes in. We administer the millage on behalf of Kent County, ensuring that funds go to programs that positively impact older adults in the community. The Kent County Senior Millage (KCSM) has helped fund vital services for older adults in the county since 1999 with the goal of enabling them to stay in their homes and communities as they age. A millage continuation will be on the ballot on August 2nd, 2022, so here's a bit more about it!

About the Millage…

Kent County residents approved a renewal and increase to the millage in August 2014 and it is currently in an 8-year millage cycle. For 2022 there is over $13 million in place to positively impact seniors’ lives. This funding provides services throughout Kent County with special attention to services that give older adults the ability to live at home and in their own communities. Each year, over 22,000 seniors are served through 51 different funded services. These services not only give older adults the ability to remain independent, but they also come alongside to support the care that families and friends are providing to their loved ones.

So what does this mean for you?

For Older Adults…

If you are an older adult 60+ in Kent County and find yourself struggling, then the KCSM is there to help. Services directly benefit you and the wide variety of partners and programming means there is likely a resource available to meet your unique needs. Over 50% of KCSM funding goes towards priority services for the most vulnerable older adults to help maintain their care and independence in their own homes. Priority services include adult day care centers, home-delivered meals, outreach and assistance, in-home care, and transportation. Other services provided by the KCSM are home repair, care management, adaptive equipment, wellness programing, dental, vision and hearing services, home chores, senior center staffing, daily money management, and more. Each year, special attention is given to making sure the various services all come together in the most efficient way possible so that gaps in care are eliminated and older adults are given the resources they need to best thrive at home.

For Caregivers…

The KCSM also works to support caregivers. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the care of an aging or disabled loved one, services provided by the KCSM can help to ease some of this burden. Services come alongside you to support the vital care you give and can provide much-needed relief. This could be in the form of transportation to doctors' appointments, respite (companionship or assistance for your loved one while you are away), respite certificates (to be used at adult day centers when needed), and various support groups.

For Community Members...

These services are more important than ever to the seniors and caregivers who rely on them. The continuation vote will take place on August 2, 2022, to continue the millage at its current level. If approved, it will be for an eight-year cycle from 2023-2030. The millage was previously approved in 1998, 2006, and 2014. There is an increased demand for the millage as over 130,000 seniors live in Kent County and research from AARP shows that 3 out of 4 older adults age 50+ want to age in their own homes. Millage services can also help save health care dollars in the long run. The year's vote is for a continuation at a 1/2 mill rate which equates to 0.5/1000 a dollar, or $.0005 cents. The millage costs the average Kent homeowner less than $8.40 a month based on the median Kent County property value of $201,500 paying $100.75 each year. 

How to Get Started…

If you are an older adult looking to receive millage services, reach out to the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at (616) 456-5664 or email aaainfo@aaawm.org. Our team would be happy to connect you to the support that is the best fit for your needs!

You can find out more about the KCSM here, as well as view the 2022 Services Directory for a full list of partners and their contact information.

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