kURT says

If there is a true need that is one thing. I knew many seniors in Huron County who used similar services for thier advantage. These  people have know a much better economy than people 50 & under. Some of these people screamed about having to pay for other services that didn't help them.

This could prove interesting. 

Cross says

While this seems a noble endeavor, I would like to see the administrative and other costs this group uses each year before giving them another million per year.

Since this is a levy, and this information should be available, does anyone have any deeper information regarding this agency? If 99% of this money goes to helping people, it's a good deal. If a bunch is used for employees, administration, and other costs then this levy should be voted down.

Darkhorse says

As long as the people keep voting for the levies, the agencies will keep on coming to the taxpayer for the vote to continue taxing us.   If the taxpayer doesn't evaluate each tax levy carefully, they can be stung.  I am wth Julie R when she talks about the Health Department and what they do with their money. Let's not forget that right after the last levy the Health Department asked to be increased, they hiked the Manager's pay up well over the going rate for raises these days.   The act was just unforgiveable and I will not vote for another health levy again because of it.

6079 Smith W says

If a private co. operated a Ponzi scheme like SS, the govt. would shut it down for fraud.

WhatTheHeck says

For the first time in our lives my spouse and I along with our college children will be voting NO on the Serving Our Seniors levy. I sat back and watched Sue D. campaign for one paticular candidate last November and found it sickening. How the Director of our senior citizen programs led the charge in getting the vote out with our elderly. How the Serving Our Seniors Board of trustees allowed that to occur is beyond me. Sorry SOS... until something is done about the politics being played, My family and I are a NO vote.

brutus smith says

 So the Health and Welfare programs added to the debt more than Reagan's Star Wars? more than GWB's tax cuts? Really? By the way, Social Security is not an entitlement program. It is funded by working people.

6079 Smith W says

 @ Mr. Jackson:

Got a link to their financials?

The SR's own Sue Daughtery is director of SOS?

According to the State, they had revenue of $950K: 

http://aging.ohio.gov/information/seniorserviceslevies/region4.aspx

What kind of annual salaries and perquisites do Ms. Daughtery and others in the administration bring down for their altruism?

While learning how to get their hands in the public till through govt. subsidies, many not-for-profits have seen their salaries balloon disproportionately to those in the private sector.  Is SOS in that company?

Ya don't think that it happens? Here's a story about the CA employees pension fund that was passing out big bonuses while the fund was losing $59B:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/39282755

Isn't it kinda funny that SOS doesn't pay property taxes, yet they are partially supported by them?

Julie R. says

I would rather vote for this than I would the levy for the Health Department, who hired Terry Griffith right after she retired as their private attorney at the taxpayers expense for a job she used to do as the assistant prosecutor. Got to make the prosecutors, judges and their staff (i.e. their relatives and friends) richer, ya know. 

NOmoreFREErides says

Outsider what a refreshing idea-"But, let me decide which of these services I wish to support with my tax dollars."

If that was the case we would have plenty of police/fire/parks/great infrastructure-but no we are forced to pay for all the deadbeat welfare scammers and the 1000's of other entitlement programs. Do not mind paying taxes but hate paying for others kids/clothing/food/shelter/cell phone/school.

"In his first two years in office, President Barack Obama will increase annual federal welfare spending by one-third from $522 billion to $697 billion. The combined two-year increase will equal almost $263 billion ($88.2 bil­lion in FY 2009 plus $174.6 billion in FY 2010). After adjusting for inflation, this increase is two and a half times greater than any previous increase in federal welfare spending in U.S. history. As a share of the economy, annual fed­eral welfare spending will rise by roughly 1.2 percent of GDP.

Under President Obama, government will spend more on welfare in a single year than President George W. Bush spent on the war in Iraq during his entire presidency. According to the Congressional Research Service, the cost of the Iraq war through the end of the Bush Administration was around $622 billion. By contrast, annual federal and state means-tested welfare spending will reach $888 billion in FY 2010. Federal welfare spending alone will equal $697 billion in that year.

While campaigning for the presidency, Obama lamented that "the war in Iraq is costing each household about $100 per month." Applying the same standard to means-tested welfare spending reveals that welfare will cost each household $560 per month in 2009 and $638 per month in 2010.

Most of Obama's increases in welfare spending are permanent expansions of the welfare state, not temporary increases in response to the current recession. According to the long-term spending plans set forth in Obama's FY 2010 budget, combined federal and state spending will not drop significantly after the recession ends. In fact, by 2014, welfare spending is likely to equal $1 trillion per year.

According to President Obama's budget projections, federal and state welfare spending will total $10.3 trillion over the next 10 years (FY 2009 to FY 2018). This spending will equal $250,000 for each person currently living in poverty in the U.S., or $1 million for a poor family of four.

Over the next decade, federal spending will equal $7.5 trillion, while state spending will reach $2.8 trillion. These figures do not include any of the increases in health care expenditure currently being debated in Congress."

Published on September 16, 2009 by Robert Rector , Kiki Bradley and Rachel Sheffield

Obamunist says

Hey SR why don't you do a story about how the cummulative effect of these levies as property taxes and how they are hurting local business and particularly the farmer?  This is 'taxation without representation'.  Many who vote for these levies don't own property.  Erie Metroparks uses taxpayer funds to acquire private land,  Perkins Schools and their 'emegency' levee.  It's always an emergency 'for our students' is the teachers union slogan.  Now it's 'for our seniors'.  How about 'for our taxpayers, workers and business owners'.    Have you ever seen SR come down on the negative side of  a tax  levy? 

6079 Smith W says

How is that not BROKE?

outsider says

 Right now, 27% of Erie County's budget is allocated to Social Service functions. About one third of your taxes paid to the county. Do you feel responsible for maintaining these services? I have a moral responsibility to help my neighbor. But, let me decide which of these services I wish to support with my tax dollars.

Just for your information, that 27% equates to $32 million dollars. I'm talking just Erie County.

Taxpayer says

The TEA Party IS for lower taxes and FREE enterprise.  Maybe a few of you freaks need to go back to school and pay attention to what capitalism is about.  Here is a tip for you liberal losers.  How about just paying me the $160K I have put into social security and we will call it even?  You do not even have to include any interest.  Just give back the principal I put into social security since I was a kid.  It is MY money, NOT yours to do what YOU feel is best.  So just pay it back and forget about all your expected entitlements and memberships into the "freeloaders club."  Now, doesn't that sound fair??  It is definitely a Conservative/TEA Party idea.  The government has used my money and I receive the SS benefits report every year.  You can also forget about medicare and medicaid.  I would rather have the opportunity to fend for myself and purchase my OWN health care, NOT FORCED 0bama care.  Then you whinners will have one less person on the government dole.  Come on freaks, you can do it!  Ha! Ha!  I have just finished the bookwork and have decided to let the people that work for me to fend for themselves when it comes to health care.  Why?  It is so much CHEAPER to just pay the 0bama/Pelosi/Reid fine instead of being FORCED to buy something I do not want to purchase.  Go 0bama!  Go liberals!  Nothing like government socialism.  Gotta love this new health care system most of YOU voted for.  Here is another tip.  I am going to keep what I have instead of giving it out for you miserable freeloaders.  Don't like it?  Go cry to uncle 0bama.  Ha! Ha!

reader says

First, I hope everyone realizes not all 50 to 60 year olds and older have any sympathy for the Tea Party movement.  They spew hatred, fear, and divisiveness.

Secondly, if we're going to make social programs subsist on voluntary donations, let's also subject all those no bid defense expenditures to the same test.  All those Halliburton and KBR contracts, plus many more.

We watched the manufacturing base go offshore, destroying the backbone of the middle class and now we're going to complain about the cost of social programs ?

Isn't it great that we can purchase so much stuff so cheaply at Wally mart ?

Gardenman says

I am not anxious to increase any of my curent taxes any higher but this levy is a very small increase. I don't know anyone who is served by Serving Our Seniors in meals. I never see any of the yellow trucks anywhere around town but I do see them out of the parking lot at the senior center so they do go somewhere. So someone who probably needs them is being helped. If that helps those folks stay in their homes and live independently then that is a plus and keeps them out of the county home and the taxpayers paying for their services.

I too tire of the Republicans spewing the financial fall of the US. Thing is the US is not going to go bankrupt even if it spent another stimulous times 2 or 3. It makes good copy for the Republicans. Right now they don't have a lot of answers either and if they can create concern and anxious voters that serves them well they feel. The US going bankrupt only happens on Rush and Mark Levin and Sean etc. If even Republicans stop and think just a minute how rich they have made Rush and I think he laughs all the way to the bank every payday. Rush has been using the fears of anti Obama and he is the vocal sounding board for folks that are for one or more reasons so upset Obama won or the Democrats are in control or a hundred other reasons. Quite honestly put the Republicans in control and things will really not be any better. Look at 8 years of GWB and I doubt many of felt our ship had come in and we were living like kings and 6 of 8 years the Republicans were in control. For the vast majority of us riches passed us by so Democrats or Republicans in control like still goes on and life really does not become a whole lot better for anyone till WE do for ourselves and make it better and NO politican can do for US waht WE must do for ourselves.

Captain Gutz says

Well a young man
He ain't got nothin' in the world these days
I said a young man
Ain't got nothin' in the world these days

In the old days
Well a young man was a strong man
All the people stepped back
When a young man walked by

You know nowadays
Well it's the old man's
Got all the money
And a young man
Ain't got nothin' in the world these days

You know nowadays, if you're the young man
You ain't got nothin' in the world these days
 

outsider says

 This program should be funded by donations only. I donate to this program. I donate to St. Jude Hospitals. I donate to programs that are important to me on a local level. I do not believe we should tax the general public for these and other social services. They should be maintained by our own free will not by a government mandate.

6079 Smith W says

@ Pundit:

Pundit says

 guess i hit a nerve 6079. 

the main point is will the tea party types, those in their 50's and 60's, support a tax that benefits them? I think they will as they overwhelmingly support receiving social security, medicare, and unemployment, even though the are opposed to the idea. it's basically a selfish movement. at base they want the government to decrease the deficit, in order to continue providing them with benefits and are afraid that Obama will slightly decrease their benefits and give something to younger people. They go on unemployment so they can drive around the country going to those protests, that sort of thing.

Still, I say vote yes, its a tiny cost to keep a great organization going. 

Yellow Snow says

This would be a bargain at twice the price.  Services provided can keep some people out of a nursing home.  Transportion, meals, a helping hand when there are none.  we're not tlalking big mony here,  we're talking basic needs being met for many for just pocket change.  Theres a lot available for minimal this minimal levyt.  Serving Our Seniors is one of the best organizations going.  I hope to see an article detailing many of the services they provide. Serving Our Seniors is a lifeline for many.

Erie County Resident says

On issues such as this those that vote NO... Then send your donations to some 3rd world country.

Remember this when your old and starving to death or eating catfood.

Not everyone has a bottomless pit of support to do it themselves, show a little compassion.

They are not welfare bums, they are senior citizens that most likely worked all of their lives and didn't "live" off of the system.

Exxcellent says

I will be voting YES for the senior citizens.

Thank you Erie County Resident for that one. I had to laugh out loud: Look at the senior issue here and not how big a turd you think the other party is.

Perkins2060 says

VOTE NO!

Kottage Kat says

Why does politics have to dictate the care we give to each other as human beings. This is a service that helps people live independently, and is a much needed service in Erie Co. I do not live in Erie county, however I am a Senior Citizen, and hope that the voters will pass this levy, despite the "naysayers". May your conscience be your guide.

Thank you for voting YES in Nov.

Erie County Resident says

It totally amazes me that everyone comes out throwing darts at each other and NOT address the actual issue presented.

Look at the senior issue here and not how big a turd you think the other party is.

Polls don't mean squat as long as you ask only one side.

6079 Smith W says

@ Pundit:

And isn’t it interesting vis-à-vis the Progressive Democrats who want public spending for an endless number of social welfare programs that will eventually lead to the bankruptcy of this country.

Roosevelt’s Ponzi scheme of Soc. Security was originally sold as an insurance pay-as-you-go system; there is no similarity.

Why do govt. bureaucrats believe that property owners should be a bottomless source of tax revenue? Housing values continue to decline, but the taxes should go up?

I’ll make a gentleman’s bet that this levy will be defeated.

Pundit says

 This is interesting vis-a-vis the Tea Party. They are against taxes that benefit the young, but for entitlements like social security that benefit them, as they are largely over 50 as all polls and surveys indicate.