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Lorain County veterans director highlights $101 million in benefits and warns of funding risk if property tax is eliminated
Summary
Jacob Smith of the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission told Vermilion council the commission helped secure about $101 million in payments to veterans in 2024 and warned that proposals to eliminate local property tax funding could imperil county veteran services.
Jacob Smith, executive director of the Lorain County Veterans Service Commission, briefed Vermilion City Council on March 23 about programs and financial assistance available to veterans in Vermilion and the wider county, and warned that eliminating local property taxes would threaten the service commission's funding.
Smith said the commission filed more than 200 claims in the most recent period and that "we spent almost just shy of $5,000,000 in 2024, and that resulted in a $101,000,000 coming into the county, direct payments to veterans." He added that since 2019 the annual incoming payments to veterans have increased and that the county's per-capita assistance ranks near the top in Ohio. Smith warned that proposals to eliminate property taxes could remove the commission's revenue base: "If property tax is eliminated, the service commission goes away," and he estimated large funding shortfalls if that occurred.
Smith described local programs including financial assistance for veterans and their families, a health and dental program to help offset medical bills, a school-clothes program, and a guitar program that provides instruments and lessons to encourage outreach to otherwise-unknown veterans. He noted partnerships with National Veterans Legal Services Program (NELSP) and described Honor Flight and other signature events. Smith urged residents to contact the commission for help with claims and emphasized that seeking VA benefits can increase resources available to all veterans.
Separately, Mayor Owens and council discussed a June 15 discontinuation of door-to-door service by Sandusky Transit (the city's dial-a-ride provider). Council members and the mayor said they are working with county and private providers to identify replacement options because approximately 15 to 30 Vermilion residents regularly rely on the service, particularly seniors and people with disabilities.
What happens next: Residents who use dial-a-ride will be contacted; council and administration will pursue replacement options for the transit service. The veterans commission provided contact materials and offered staff support for claims assistance.
