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Council places 2‑mill Council on Aging renewal on June ballot after testimony on meals, housing and disaster services
Summary
The Metropolitan Council approved a motion to put a 2‑mill, 10‑year Council on Aging renewal on the June 27 ballot after hearing from seniors, Council on Aging leaders and state Senator Regina Barrow about services and disaster‑response work. Council approved the item as an emergency to allow timely state bond commission action.
The East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council voted Feb. 11 to put a proposed 2‑mill dedicated tax to fund the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging on the June 27, 2026 ballot.
State Senator Regina Barrow, Council on Aging board members and clients told the council the funding supports Meals on Wheels, senior centers, housing initiatives and disaster response for seniors. “These services are priceless,” Senator Barrow said, urging the council to let voters decide.
Jennifer Moyzant, vice chair of the Council on Aging board, said every program and staff member in the organization depends on the millage and that about 25,000 seniors rely on Council on Aging services each year. She warned that without the renewal the agency could close senior centers and eliminate case management and meals programs.
Council members and administration staff queried how the Council on Aging plans to use funds, whether the agency would use any of the millage for campaigning (the board said it would not use millage funds for campaign activity), and how the entity performs during disasters. The director said the Council on Aging is the parish’s designated Area Agency on Aging and coordinates emergency support for high‑risk seniors, including pre‑ and post‑event meal deliveries and coordination with FEMA for reimbursement.
Council approved the motion to place the 2‑mill renewal on the ballot and declared the item an emergency so the administration can apply to the state bond commission as required by the plan of government.
What happens next: If placed on the ballot and approved by voters on June 27, the 2‑mill levy would take effect for tax year 2027 and fund Council on Aging operations, services and housing activities.
