Each year the Hamilton County Elderly Services program helps nearly 8,000 disabled senior citizens with an average income of $18,000 stay in their homes.
The program makes possible the most mundane things.... home health aids to assist with housekeeping or personal grooming,
Or volunteers who deliver meals on wheels, and in the process provide human contact and friendship, and maybe even take the dog for a walk.
Helping senior citizens stay in their own homes is important for morale and for the societal bottom line. Whereas the elderly care program costs about $335 per month, full nursing home care costs about $4,800 per month.
Issue 29, the Elderly Care Levy, asks voters to approve a 1.29 mill property tax.
That includes a renewal of an existing 1.16 mill levy and an increase of a point 1-3 mills.
For every 100,000 of real estate value, the property owner will pay $26.51 per year, or about 7 cents a day. which is an increase of about a penny a day.
To discuss the Elderly Care Levy, I am joined this morning by Suzanne Burke, the Chief Executive Officer of the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio which administers the program under contract from the Hamilton County Commission.
And Ken Wilson, the Director of Programs and Planning for the Council on Aging.
The Hamilton County Board of Elections wants to remind everyone, if you want to vote early, you can get an early voting application form not only from the board, but also from any United Dairy Farmer Store or Kroger Store in Hamilton County, as well as library branches and post offices.
Those applications must be mailed or faxed to the board of elections, which will then mail out the actual ballot.
You can also vote early at the Board of Elections at 825 Broadway downtown Monday through Saturday.
If you have questions, call 513-632-7039.
