Voters in the Kemmerer Senior Citizen Service District will decide next week whether to increase the district’s mill levy from 0.3 mills to 0.6 mills, a proposal Treasurer Cindy Miller says would help maintain existing senior services.
Miller discussed the request during an appearance Monday, October 26, on the Weekday Wake-up, explaining that the district supports meals, transportation, recreation and maintenance at the Kemmerer Senior Center.
“What the increase from 0.3 to 0.6 does for us is just maintain exactly what we’re providing right now,” Miller said.
Over the past four years, the district has contributed approximately $120,000 annually, accounting for more than a quarter of the center’s funding, Miller said. That includes local matching money required for state and federal programs supporting congregate meals, home-delivered meals, recreation and transportation.
The transportation funding helps support what Miller described as the Kemmerer area’s only public transportation service. District money has also supported heating and air-conditioning work, water-service repairs, refrigeration equipment, floor improvements and roof repairs.
Miller said the board requested the increase because of concerns about potential revenue losses associated with Proposition 1, another measure appearing on the ballot.
She pointed to House Bill 0107, which she described as providing replacement revenue for cities, towns and counties. Miller said the board has not identified similar relief for special districts under that legislation.
The senior service district generally follows local fire district boundaries, stretching from Twin Creeks to Opal, past Willow Springs and including Kemmerer and Diamondville, Miller said. Voters within those boundaries will decide the levy question.
Miller reported that the center had served 16,540 meals this year and recorded 4,388 event sign-ins for activities including museum visits, cornhole, crafts and sewing.
Those opportunities help older residents remain connected to their community, she said. The center also involves youth and community organizations, including Honor Society students, Cub Scouts, 4-H members and the alternative school.
Miller encouraged residents to review the funding issues before casting their ballots in next week’s General Election.
“We try to involve the whole community,” she said, “and we just ask the community’s support.”
To listen to the full interview, click here.