Committee chair touts mill levy for seniors

Political Action Committee Chair Terry Wilkerson, representing the Crook County Senior Services (CCSS), strongly advocated the 1% mill levy that will appear on the ballot this November before Pine Haven’s governing body at last Tuesday’s meeting.

Wilkerson explained that, while CCSS also utilizes state and federal grants, “This mill levy allows the continuation of the programs and services provided for the seniors.” He noted a letter recently received from the state offices informing him that the state grants is facing a 20% cut this year.

Many of the programs are subsidized by the mil levy funding like meals on wheels, according to Wilkerson. Individuals pay $4 for each meal while the actual cost to get that meal to their door or center is around $12.

Another way the levy is used is for the elderly in outlying areas of the county; they are charged on average approximately $2 an hour for nursing care by a certified nurse who is actually paid in the neighborhood of $26 per hour for home visits.

The levy also allows CCSS to apply for matching grants for which they could not otherwise qualify.

With the changes state and local finances over the last two years, Wilkerson advised against taking a cavalier attitude toward this year’s awarding of this mill levy, “All programs are being cut and without the mill levy funding, Crook County Senior Services would not be able to provide the services they are currently providing.”

Wilkerson recognized that the municipality cannot contribute to the political committee, “but as individuals, you are the city’s leaders in your community so, hopefully, you talk to people in your community and tell them what the positives are from the mill levy that supports our Crook County seniors.”

Councilman John Henle asked one question, “Does all the money from the mil levy stay in our county?” to which Wilkerson assured, “Every dime of it.”