Guernsey County Senior Center requests levy renewal with an increase

CAMBRIDGE − The Guernsey County Senior Center has requested a levy renewal with an increase be placed on the November ballot

Commissioners Jack Marlin, Dave Wilson and Skip Gardner Jr. met on July 16 and adopted a resolution declaring it necessary to levy a renewal of an existing 1.5 mills tax levy with an increase of 0.3 mills. (1.8 total mills) for the center. The current levy expires Dec. 31, 2025.

Guernsey County Senior Center Director Shon Gress said they opted for a renewal and increase, instead of just a renewal.

"We have always found that we garnered great support during presidential elections, plus not knowing after the presidential election if there's going to be something in May. It would be far too costly as a non-profit for us to have to pay for a special election. So that right off the bat may limit us to one shot try in November of 2025, so what we opted to do was to go a year early, but these collections wouldn't start until 2026," Gress said about the timing of the levy request.

The new levy will be for five years and will help cover the center's costs through 2030. Gress is aware of the ask that the center places on the community for support, and doesn't take it granted.

Currently under the 1.5 millage, based on the property value of a $100,000 home in Guernsey County, the levy costs the taxpayers roughly $48 per year. The increase would add $10. Divided over a year, that's $4.83 per month (based on the $100,000 home value). "For less than the cost of a cheeseburger at Wendy's, you're helping thousands of seniors throughout the county, throughout the community," Gress said.

If approved, the funds would be split between the Robert T. Secrest Senior Center and the Guernsey County Senior Citizens Center. The Secrest Center will receive 25% of the funding with the Guernsey Center receiving 75%. Both boards have requested approval from the Secretary of State, Guernsey County Commissioners and the Guernsey County Board of Elections. If approved, the levy would appear on the Nov. 5 ballot. The money would be used to provide senior-based services and programs for those age 60 or older, as well as their caregivers and families. Those services include transportation, homemaking, personal care and activities. The services provided by the center provides are on a donation-only basis. There is no set fee and no one will be denied services based on their inability to donate. "We know in tough economic times, seniors, more often than not, live on very fixed, modest incomes. So they're trying to stretch those dollars," Gress said.

A portion of the funding will also be used to offset the cost of the Meals on Wheels program. While the organization does receive money from the current Meals on Wheels levy, which expires in 2027, Gress said that money primarily covers the cost of food. The additional costs associated with the program includes vehicle maintenance, gas costs and more.

"This is good for your brain," Connie Vasko said of the senior center. She meets with Marge Currie, Carolyn Fitzgerald and Denise Burris weekly to play mahjong at the center. The ladies also like to attend the drumming sessions, the monthly meal, and line dancing events held at the center.

The overall operating budget of the center ranges from $3.4 to $3.6 million, noted Gress. The senior services levy is estimated to bring in around $1.6 million for the organization, leaving close to $2 million that the center makes up in the form of personal donations, the Passport Medicaid waiver program, United Way funds, Title 3 funding and grants, which Gress writes himself.

"It's not as if we're relying on the public to fund 100% of what we do, but it's a large portion of the impactful services that we provide. It makes a profound difference when you look at not just the financial investment, but more on the social return on investment," Gress added.

For more information about the levy, or the services provided by the Guernsey County Senior Center, call 740-439-6681, visit https://guernseysenior.org , or email sgress@guernseysenior.org.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Guernsey County Senior Center requests levy renewal with an increase