ASHLAND — With just over half voting in favor, Ashland voters passed a 5-year, 2-mill levy to fund services and facilities for children and seniors.
The levy passed by a slim margin — with 4,805 voting (52.94%) for and 4,272 voting (47.06%) against.
The tax levy will generate $2.8 million annually, or $14.3 million over the life of the levy, shared equally between the Ashland County Council on Aging and Ashland’s Department of Job and Family Services.
The property tax, which will take effect Jan. 1, will cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $70 per year.
Director of Ashland County Department of Job and Family Services Peter Stefaniuk thanked the Ashland community Tuesday for its support of the social services levy.
“This vote demonstrates to me how much our community cares about the needs of our vulnerable seniors and children,” Stefaniuk stated Tuesday. “This is a watershed moment for our agency. This levy will propel us forward in ways to improve our operations in multiple ways.
“We are grateful for the opportunities this creates to be our best for Ashland County!”
Sandy Enderby, executive director of the Ashland County Council on Aging, echoed Stefaniuk in her reaction to the levy’s passage.
“We have to thank our Ashland community for voting yes for us to help assist the most at risk in our community, our seniors and our children,” Enderby said.
In addition to financial support, Enderby emphasized that the passage of the levy will solidify a new partnership between the council on aging and job and family services.
“I want to also thank our human service levy committee,” Enderby said, also noting her appreciation for the Ashland County Commissioners and the council on aging’s board of directors.
The agencies have each previously expressed goals to expand and create programs. Regarding the council on aging, Enderby said levy funds will fuel the expansion of its home-delivered meals program, as well as the creation of new programs.
“Two services that I would like to look forward to starting would be our guardian visitor program to help create support systems with our seniors, and then also our caregiver relief program that helps the spouses who are caring for their loved one at home — to let them have a few hours to themselves to go get a haircut or go to the beauty shop or go have lunch with her friends,” Enderby said Tuesday.
He added the funds used for the relief program would go toward hiring aids from its agency or from a home health agency.
The council on aging, affiliated with the United Way of Ashland County, currently benefits from a 0.6 mill levy, which was first approved by voters in 2007. That levy has been eliminated with the successful passage of the 2 mill levy.
According to the latest Census data from 2019, 19.1% of Ashland County residents are 65 years old or older, and 22.3% of residents are under 18 years old, meaning the levy directly impacts approximately 40% of Ashland residents.
