By Zachary Marano
zachary@leelanaunews.com
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a millage request for its senior services department, which will appear on the Michigan 2024 primary election ballot in August.
Voters will consider a proposal to renew the millage at a rate of 0.32 for two years, which would be a slight increase from the 0.3134 rate set in 2022.
Prior to the rate getting reduced by the 2022 “Headlee” rollbacks, however, voters had previously approved the millage for senior services at a 0.32 rate in 2020. In documents provided to the board of commissioners at their Jan. 9 executive session, senior services director Lena Vander Meulen argued in favor of restoring this rate for 2024 through 2026.
“If the millage rate is restored to the previously voted .320, we will bring in approximately $1,154,944.00 in the first calendar year (based on the 2023 County taxable value). The existing millage has proven instrumental in supporting programs and initiatives that enhance the well-being of our senior population. Renewing this millage will ensure the continuity of these essential services, addressing the unique needs and challenges faced by our senior residents,” Vander Meulen said.
According to an attachment in the board packet, this increase of less than 0.007 mills will bring in about $24,000 more for the senior services department, based on the 2023 county taxable value of just over $3.6 million.
However, Interim Finance Director Cathy Hartesvelt said that determining the actual value that will be collected is still a “guessing game” at this point. Equalization Director Andrew Giguere said that 2024 property values will be available in March for the estimation of taxes to be collected.
Back in July, the county board heard a senior services update from the former director, April Missias, who resigned that month. According to that presentation the county’s senior population has grown at a rate of 2-3% each year over the last decade, with 6,974 seniors in 2010 and 9,075 seniors in 2021. Of these 9,075 people, 52% were in their 60s, 32% were in their 70s, and 16% were in their 80s or above.
“While such a growth is indicative of a thriving community, it also raises concerns about the potential to outpace the capacity of existing services … and may result in a waiting list for our services,” Vander Meulen noted.
Also as part of their January consent agenda, the board of commissioners approved:
• Sending Care Coordinator Gail Carlson of the senior services department to attend the American Agency on Aging 2024 conference in March, to be held in San Franscisco.
• Accepting an anonymous $12,000 donation to the sheriff’s office for the purchase of 25 medical bags from Bound Tree Medical Supplies.
• The Leelanau Conservation District’s Jan. 1 work orders for conservation education and technical assistance, soil erosion and sedimentation control, and water quality monitoring, to be reimbursed up to a maximum of $48,000 plus 100% of soil erosion permit application fees.
• Renewal of the annual maintenance contract for Barracuda Essentials Software for the IT Department, for email spam and virus filtering and email archiving, in the amount of $8,700.
• An electronics collection agreement with Bay Area Recycling for Communities for 2024.
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