MISSOULA COUNTY - The Missoula County Commissioners voted Thursday, March 10 to put a repeal and replace levy request for Missoula Aging Services (MAS) on the ballot for the June primary election. Currently, MAS receives $350,000 from Missoula County taxpayers annually. The levy, if passed, will generate approximately $750,000 in annual income. This equates to an additional $3.69 annual increase for a $100,000 home and $7.38 for a home with a taxable value of $200,000.
If passed, the levy will replace the current funding flat rate level for MAS with four mills which will allow growth based on tax collection.
Roberta Smith, Missoula Aging Services board chair, stated the request for the modest increase will allow MAS to meet the growing demand in Missoula County. The Commissioners agreed MAS provides value to the community and support an increase in county funding. MAS and the Commissioners were critical of the lack of state support for Area on Agency programs.
Missoula Aging Services started in 1982. It promotes independent living for older adults and their caregivers. According to Smith, from 2010 to 2019 the older population in the county grew 40% and the 75+ age group grew 22%. County funding has remained stagnant at $350,000 (equivalent to 2 mills) since 2007.
The Missoula Aging Services provides many services throughout the county, Meals on Wheels is the most recognizable. They also help seniors navigate Medicare, Medicaid along with finding rebates for property tax relief and rental assistance along with many services for the elderly. MAS volunteers are navigators and advocates in the older community through programs like Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion and Meals on Wheels Drivers along with helping people find long term care options when the time presents.
Last year, MAS put over $450,000 back in the pocket of community members by helping them find assistance and subsidies, Susan Kohler, CEO said. This helps allow people to live in their own homes longer.
Several community members testified on Thursday in support of the increased levy. All agreed the programs provided by the agency were important to the community. During public comment, an RSVP volunteer with MAS said respite care along with Meals on Wheels helps caregivers keep their jobs longer while still caring for elderly parents or spouse.
Since people are living longer it is not uncommon for MAS to be providing service to a parent in their 90s and a child in their in 70s, according to Kohler.
Commissioners Josh Slotnick and Dave Strohmaier voted unanimously to put the levy on the ballot. Commissioner Juanita Vera was absent. The full recordings of the March 4 and March 10 meetings are available on the Missoula County Commissioners’ YouTube channel.
Reader Comments(0)