Clark County voters approve levy for United Senior Services

Voters cast their votes at the First Christian Church on Middle Urbana Road on Tuesday. Eric Higgenbotham/STAFF

Voters cast their votes at the First Christian Church on Middle Urbana Road on Tuesday. Eric Higgenbotham/STAFF

Voters easily approved an additional levy to raise money for United Senior Services Tuesday night, according to final, unofficial results in Clark County.

About 65 percent of voters approved the levy, compared to 35 percent who opposed it. The 1.4 mill additional levy will cost the owner of a $100,000 home approximately $49 per year, according to information from the USS. The agency also has an existing 1 mill levy, which costs $33 annually and will expire at the end of 2019, resulting in a one-year overlap between the two.

“It’s really wonderful Clark County voters recognize the mission of United Senior Services,” said Director Maureen Fagans after the election.

»»Election 2018: Get the latest results on races in Clark and Champaign Counties

She said the new money will help seniors. The additional revenue will cover costs to meet growing demand for in-home services such as meal deliveries and providing personal care aides, for example.

Fagans said its been 15 years that the senior services have been operating on a 1 mill levy, but it is not enough. Now that the levy has passed, it will allow the agency to add staff to provide a variety of additional services and respond to the needs of local residents more quickly, she said.

“We have waiting lists on almost all of our services,” she said.

She said she was confident the issue would be approved, but it wasn’t clear by how wide a margin. The fact it passed easily was encouraging, she said.

“We’ve been cautiously optimistic,” Fagans said. “The feedback we have been getting back has been positive.”

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