Dear Editor,
I am writing in support of the renewal of the five-year, .25% sales and use tax levy.
The money generated from the sales tax levy is split evenly with Union County Senior Services and the Union County Engineers Office. For Senior Services, all the sales tax money goes directly for the construction and maintenance of our county roads and bridges.
For seniors in our community the services provided go beyond the home-delivered meals, in-home care services and transportation to medical appointments that are familiar to most people. There are a multitude of services offering assistance with everything from emergency response buttons, coupons to purchase local produce, pet care for companions of seniors, Medicare counseling assistance and support to community senior centers to promote activities that include exercise, mental stimulation and social connection that are so important for quality of life. Social workers with Senior Services provide home visits to assess, consult and assist in service planning for our seniors to remain safely in their own homes.
In 2022, Senior Services increased the budget for home delivered meals by 40% and home health care by 79%. Senior Services added two new transportation providers, in addition to UCATS, to enable more transportation options on the weekends and evenings for seniors. Senior Services expanded the types of trips that it funds for seniors to include trips for any activity of daily living. Senior Services plans to continue to use money generated by the sales tax levy to apply for additional grants to extend the levy services like home delivered meals, in-home care services and transportation.
With your support on Nov. 8, Senior Services plans to continue to follow the levy language and enhance services to assist keeping seniors living safely and independently in our community.
If you are not a senior, you probably know someone who is. These programs benefit our entire community directly or indirectly. The cost to the individual taxpayer is minor. The return on investment is major.
Sue Ware,
Union County Human Services Director