KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM/FM) — It looks like voters in Kalamazoo County may be asked to approve a fraction of a mill to fund programs to help the elderly in November, but Kalamazoo County staff will be working against the clock to prepare the request.
A host of organizations that currently serve seniors say their funds have been frozen for years and are now threatened by federal cuts.
They say it comes as a time when baby boomers are reaching retirement age in ever greater numbers.
Well over a dozen people spoke in favor of pursuing the millage last night.
But the board only has until 4pm on August 15th to beat the deadline for the November Ballot.
Because the proposal is coming from agencies and advisory groups, Health Dept. Director Jim Rutherford says they will have a lot of work to do to get it ready on time. He says he is not sure how much they might need or how they would spend it, but he is aware that many of the programs provided through senior agencies have waiting lists.
Commissioners plan to review staff recommendations at their first August meeting make any amendments and then hold a special meeting on August 8th before the deadline to vote whether to put it on the ballot.
Kalamazoo is one of only ten counties in Michigan that does not have a countywide senior millage. Comstock Township has one in place already to serve seniors in that area.
