Portage County officials back resolution to place human services levy on November ballot

Kelli Jo, a member of the county's 50-plus committee, presented the English edition of a new Senior Scoop newsletter and outlined a countywide "SOS — Support Our Seniors" drive aimed at collecting items and expanding outreach to older residents. She said the first issue already prompted about 50 requests for mailed copies and that partners — including the hospital and several nonprofit providers — plan videos and outreach tied to the November levy effort.

Kelli Jo told the board the levy proposal is designed to replace an existing child-welfare levy component with a broader human-services levy that would continue funding services for children and add explicit senior programs. She said the proposal was pared back from a half-mill to four-tenths of a mill to reduce homeowner impact and noted the last similar levy translated to roughly $14 per $100,000 of assessed value; the exact dollar impact for the upcoming cycle will be certified if the resolution proceeds.

The board moved a resolution of necessity to place an additional tax levy on the November ballot that, if approved by voters, would benefit Job and Family Services for public assistance and social services for adults and children. Kelli Jo said, if the board approves the necessary resolutions, she would return within two weeks to file by the August 5 deadline to place the levy on the ballot.

Why it matters: County commissioners must pass statutory resolutions to get a local tax measure on the ballot; the levy would change how existing local funds are structured and could expand direct supports for seniors while altering the levy mix previously used to fund child-welfare programs.

Next steps: The board took the first statutory step by moving a resolution of necessity; staff and proponents expect a follow-up resolution and certification steps within about two weeks to meet the filing deadline. The board did not finalize dollar certifications during the presentation.