As a welcome to 2026, this past year of services provided by Senior Levy tax dollars increased even though collections from the successful passage of the 0.75-mill, five-year replacement levy approved by voters in November 2024 will not be received by the county treasury until 2026.

This increase in services was made possible by using carryover dollars from underutilized contracts over the years, especially during the COVID years, and responsible budgeting to spend within collection limits. This levy has been in existence for 20 years since 2005 with collections from real estate taxes beginning in 2006.

In that first year of 2006, collections exceeded services provided as the Trumbull County Commissioners and the appointed Senior Services Advisory Council (SSAC) members were organizing and deciding which services were most important to the residents of Trumbull County. Annually, SSAC members are appointed by the commissioners for three-year terms for an 11-member council. This important task to advise the commissioners is accomplished by interested community members who volunteer their time to assure oversight of the tax levy dollars and to make important decisions for service to the area’s senior residents.

Currently, those members are meeting with the various service programs such as home-delivered meals, personal care / homemaker and Adult Protective Service programs to gain better insight on the community issues.

Historically and successfully, the most effective change that occurred through the years was with the transportation funded program providing medical transportation for our seniors. From the inception until 2019, the majority of transportation funding was awarded to one contractor using a Memorandum of Understanding agreement between the commissioners and the contractor. This system was draining the carryover balance almost to complete depletion had the funding continued in that manner, along with other issues.

With changes made, the transportation system now has successfully kept costs down below the pre-2019 cost with the help of state grants and the multiple vendors secured through a bid-process instead of the prior Memorandum of Understanding process that was used then.

A new process is underway with the snowplowing / lawn mowing programs because of oversight issues and hopefully this new process also will improve both the service provided and at a reduced cost from prior years, just as in transportation.

The residents receiving snowplow services should not notice the internal changes and will continue receiving services. For the lawn mowing services, prior to the start of warmer days ahead that turns our lawns from brown to green, contact will be made to those on the current list as to the status of receiving service.

As in all of the Senior Levy funded service areas, demand exceeds the funding available, so this new process will try to serve those with the greatest need. As a request to the healthy public, those with elderly neighbors or aged family members who cannot maintain their lawns or snow removal, please be good neighbors and / or family members and provide that service for them. The members of SSAC and the Senior Levy Administration appreciate any assistance we can get from the community.

If any agency wants to assist with this program at their cost, this would be greatly appreciated as well. I remember hearing “It Takes A Village.” Our Mahoning Valley is recognized for its strong community spirit and philanthropic efforts. One neighbor at a time assists this program with meeting the demand as, after all, your surrounding neighborhood affects your home as well.

If interested in submitting a quote as a snowplow / lawn mowing vendor, please contact Diane Jurkovic at 330-675-7846. If interested, as an agency, to serve any part of our wait list at your cost, please contact this office as well. Even if only for one senior.