Voters in Scioto County gave a “thumbs up” to a replacement levy for United Scioto Senior Activities, Inc. on Tuesday. The levy has been in place for a number of years and is used to fund senior activities and programs of the organization.
“This means everything to our programs, the people that we serve,” United Scioto Senior Activities Inc. Director Renee Ellis said. “Without this local funding we would not be able to provide nearly as much as we do, so we’re thankful to the citizens and the voters of this county for supporting the older citizens.”
United Scioto Senior Activities Inc., operates a center at 117-119 Market Street in Portsmouth. The organization uses the center as the base of operations and activities which include a senior citizens center and an adult day care center.
The Senior Citizen Levy was first approved by Scioto County Voters in 1986 and had not asked for an increase in funding until this year.
“It’s the right thing to do,” Ellis said. “I want all of this to continue to have it there for me and for the future generations.”
Ellis said the levy will typically bring in about $100,000. The replacement levy should produce an estimated $20,000 extra.
Ellis said the adult day care is one of their most popular programs.
“If someone has an elderly parent or family members who have any kind of dementia or Alzheimer’s or physical disability, this is a respite program for the families. The family can drop them off for the day and most of the time, we have money to cover that,” Ellis said.
If someone is brought to the daycare that lives outside of Scioto County, they would have pay for the services. Scioto County residents can use the program for free because of the levy.
“We were one of the first counties in the state of Ohio that actually passed a tax levy top support senior services,” Ellis said. “I can’t say enough about the citizens here. I’m proud of this county.”
Ellis said anyone is invited to come to the center to check out the programs offered.
For more information about United Scioto Senior Actives Inc., and the services they offer, call them at 740-354-6672.
