Issue 1, the Butler County Senior Services Levy, provides funding for the Elderly Services Program (ESP). It is vitally important to the Elderly Services Program because it provides 84 percent of the program’s funding. Without the levy, the program would end and there is nothing else to replace it.
Issue 1, the Butler County Senior Services Levy, provides funding for our county’s Elderly Services Program (ESP), which helped more than 4,000 county residents age 60 and older remain safe and independent in their homes in 2024. ESP helps older adults with activities of daily living, including bathing, cleaning, cooking, and transportation, while also filling gaps in care that may already be provided by family caregivers.
ESP offers flexible care to meet clients’ changing needs. Eligibility and care needs are determined by an in-home assessment and a professional care manager coordinates and monitors clients’ care. Income is not an eligibility factor for ESP, but some clients have a co-payment based on their income.
Issue 1 is vitally important to the Elderly Services Program because it provides 84 percent of the program’s funding. In short, without the levy, the program would end and there is nothing else to replace it.
The levy has not had an increase in 20 years (2005). During that time, the number of people age 60+ in Butler County has increased 79 percent. The number of people age 85+ (those most likely to need care) has increased 52 percent. Council on Aging, the administrator of the levy via a contract with Butler County Commissioners, has worked hard to keep costs down. Despite 62-percent inflation during this period, and rising program costs, the cost of care per client in ESP has increased only 18 percent (or $66) in 20 years.
Council on Aging has worked hard to stretch every dollar as far as it will go, but the older adult population is growing, costs are rising and caregivers are stretched thin. Since February 2024, enrollment into ESP has been limited to focus on individuals most in need, including cancer and dialysis patients, adult protective cases and a few others. While this has helped to manage costs, it also means hundreds of people who would otherwise be eligible for the program have been turned away in the past year.
The levy expires at the end of this year and voters will be asked to approve a renewal of the levy. This will include a renewal of the existing levy at 1.3 mills, plus and increase of .7 mills.
This is a difficult time to ask voters for more money, but Issue 1 will benefit everyone in Butler County, not just older adults. The levy helps older adults age in place at home – where they want to be. It fills in gaps in care that family caregivers may be providing, so they can have time to manage other responsibilities in their lives, including children and careers. Issue 1 helps businesses who need employees to be present and productive at work, not sidelined or distracted by caregiving responsibilities. And, the levy makes a difference in the quality of life of so many people.
By voting YES for Issue 1, the Butler County Senior Services Levy, you can help ensure Butler County is a great place to live, no matter how old you are.
This content was originally published here by Citizens Supporting our Elderly.
View more about Issue 1:
- 10 Reasons You Should Support the Butler County Senior Services Levy
- Meet the Clients Who Benefit Most From the ESP
- Get Involved to Support Senior Citizens
- Follow Citizens Supporting our Elderly on Facebook and Instagram