Senior Services levy set for ballot
By KATIE MATZ, Times Leader Staff WriterBELMONT COUNTY Commissioners approved the recommendation from the Belmont Senior Services Board Wednesday afternoon for a 1.5-mill tax levy to be placed on the Nov. 4 General Election ballot.
According to Commissioner Mark Thomas, if that levy passes in November, the current half mill levy that expires at the end of 2008 would be removed.
Thomas said the net result will be a 1-mill levy on the ballot, based upon current evaluation of tax property values, "as opposed to what they are now."
"In meetings with Belmont Senior Services, at this point, they need that millage to keep current services - not increase them," Thomas said. "The rising cost of delivering services to the senior services has resulted in them requesting additional monies."
Commissioners said, with extensive input from the county auditor, if the levy doesn't pass in the general election, there may be cuts in certain services.
"If the levy would not pass as presented, then probably, if costs continue to escalate, there's probably going to be cuts in services for the seniors," Thomas said.
According to Commission Vice President Chuck Probst, not only is the board concerned with making sure there is enough money to support senior services in the future, but also, commissioners do not want to place a heavy a tax burden on the county residents.
"We have to be very concerned with the taxpayers ... but we do live in an elderly community here in the county so we are very concerned about that also," Probst said.
In other action Wednesday, the board:
- Approved a motion to hold a "Town Hall" meeting at the Main Entrance to the Belmont County Fairgrounds at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 5; public is welcome.
* Authorized Jack Regis, Belmont County Facilities Manager to offer employment to two applicants for one full-time and one part-time maintenance housekeeping position.
* Authorized Mark Esposito, director of Belmont County Sanitary Sewer District, to offer employment to an applicant for one mechanic position.
* Approved the continued employment and a 50 cents per hour salary increase, effective Aug. 18, 2008, for Mr. Kelly Porter, who has successfully completed his probationary period as project manager for the Belmont County Sanitary Sewer District, based upon the recommendation of Mark Esposito, BCSSD director.
* Awarded the bid for Belmont County Sanitary Sewer District's Graham & Neffs Water Storage Tanks Recoating Project, to Central Painting & Sandblasting, Inc. of Navarre, Ohio in the amount of $212,930, based upon the recommendation of Vaughn, Coast & Vaughn, Project Engineer and Mark Esposito, director of BCSSD.
Matz may be reached at kmatz@timesleaderonline.com
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08-21-08 3:50 PM
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With the cost of gas Senior Services meals on wheels will require more gas money.Those miles add up fast delivery lunch to all those seniors at Wheeling Downs.
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