Many voters in northwest Lower Michigan will decide whether to continue funding services for senior citizens in Tuesday’s primary election.
Leelanau County and Emmet County each have senior millage renewals on the ballot -- and two other counties in the area are looking to increase property tax rates.
They’re responding to an ever-growing population of seniors, whose numbers are straining budgets.
Missaukee County
It’s getting harder to keep up with demand in Missaukee County.
The Executive Director of the county’s Commission on Aging -- Pam Blevins -- says bringing in more money is essential. “Our business -- our numbers of hours in the home -- have increased two and a half times since 2010," Blevins says.
Voters in Missaukee County will face two different millage proposals this Tuesday. Each fund the same thing: programs for senior citizens. One of the millage requests is a renewal, but a second request would bump up funding and bring in an estimated $150,000 in its first year. That's extra money for programs like in-home care and Meals On Wheels.
Blevins says the county would likely have to start putting seniors on waitlists if they don't get the increase.
“We’ve never had a waiting list at the [Commission on Aging]," Blevins says. "If someone calls for services we have a nurse in to evaluate the situation that same week. That probably will not happen in the future.”
Blevins says the answer to why demand is going up in Missaukee is simple: the baby boomers. That huge generation is finally reaching retirement age. And there are other issues at play too.
“People are living so much longer than they used to," Blevins says. "So if they want to stay living at home safely that means we’re putting more hours of service into the home, whether it be personal care, homemaking, or respite.”
State-Wide Problems
Missaukee County is not the only place facing these challenges. Michigan is growing older quickly.
In 2000 about 16 percent of the population was over the age of 60 -- but in 2010 that number was about 20 percent. And some areas in the state are older than others.
Bob Schlueter, Executive Director of the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan, says this region is one of the most rapidly aging areas in the state.
“There’s about 70,000 over the age of 60 in the ten counties that we serve," Schlueter says. "I think the census prior to this was about 60,000 or a little below 60,000."
Schlueter’s agency distributes money to county programs -- and each county needs serious cash. But he says funding from the state and federal government has been declining in recent years. This makes local money all the more important.
“Without the millages there would be that many more people who wouldn’t receive just the basic services that a lot of the Commissions on Aging provide," Schlueter says.
Kalkaska County
Kalkaska County is another one of those spots were demand is soaring.
“We have seen a 50 percent increase in demand for services over the last two years," says Gay Rowell -- Executive Director of the Kalkaska County Commission on Aging.
Her Commission is asking for the maximum the state allows – 1.00 mill -- for the next two years. Rowell says the millage is essential because of the increase in demand. And while there’s not much talk against the measure, she knows anything can happen in an election.
“I haven’t heard anything in the line of opposition," Rowell says. "I believe people know there’s a need."
"The one comment I have heard is simply the fact that because there are so many things on our ballot -- that people are going to have to give some serious thought and determine what they’re going to approve.”
Millages supporting senior programs have done well in the state in recent history. Bridge Magazine reports that of the 30 proposals to fund senior programs on the ballot in the summer of 2012 -- 30 passed.