Commission on Aging tax renewal to go before voters in August

CENTREVILLE – St. Joseph County voters this summer will have the option of whether to support a millage renewal sought by the county’s Commission on Aging.

County commission members last week agreed to place the six-year renewal request before voters in the August primary election.

COA Director Pam Riley said the request seeks renewal of three-quarters of a mill annually through 2029 to support key programs and general operations of the agency. If approved, the request would generate more than $1.8 million in its first year.

Following the commission’s March 19 meeting, Riley said three-quarters of a mill may not sound like a lot but it is essential to the COA.

“We won’t exist if we don’t have the senior millage … it’s about two-thirds of our budget,” Riley said, noting the agency provides more than 25 services to people who are 60 years of age or older.

Riley, who replaced Tim Stoll as COA director in January 2021, said the two most popular services are Meals on Wheels, and in-home services that provide house cleaning, personal care and respite care.

“Those are two huge programs for us, but then we also have the medical loan closet, vouchers for local produce, chore work, minor home repairs, exercise programs at both centers, just so many services for older adults that, yes, this millage is absolutely critical for us,” Riley said.

Riley said the agency is fortunate to receive grants and donations, but the millage is far and away the source of funding that makes so many of COA’s programs possible.

She said with the increase in food costs, COA continues to budget to the penny and stretch its finances as far as possible.

“We’re not doing frivolous things with our funds,” she said. “For example, the exercise programs are very, very popular and we wouldn’t be able to pay our instructors otherwise.”

She said approval of the request, in fact, benefits more than St. Joseph County’s older residents.

“People who are taking care of their parents may not realize the services we have and they may qualify for respite care, or their parents may qualify for Meals on Wheels, for example,” Riley said. “The benefit (of COA) is not only to help them help their parents, but in the future, they’re going to be eligible for our services as well. So, it’s really thinking ahead.”

Riley said a group calling itself Friends of the COA is in the process of forming and plans to stage a heavy informational campaign to promote the merits of COA and its impending renewal request. Friends of the COA will attempt fundraisers to purchase yard signs as well as organize for participation in community festival parades this summer.

COA oversees Rivers Enrichment Center and Residence in Three Rivers and Oaks Enrichment Center in Sturgis. Its Three Rivers site includes more than 40 residential units following a $4.6 million remodeling of the former Three Rivers Inn. The site opened in September 2019.

The agency celebrated its 50-year anniversary in 2023.

The previous renewal request was in November 2018 and passed by a margin of 71% in favor to 29% opposed.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Commission on Aging tax renewal to go before voters in August