The request was withdrawn because the agencies cannot be listed on a resolution to authorize a levy or on the ballot, and disbursements of any approved funds would be handled through the county’s annual budget process, said Ann Munafo, executive director of Middletown Area Senior Citizens Inc.
City Council members said they want more information before they ask taxpayers for more money.
A levy, however, is apparently the only option to help save the financially struggling nonprofit senior organization, she said.
“When I started (in August 2011), it became apparent that we had a lot of financial crisis going on there,” Munafo said.
Munafo knows that asking voters for another levy is a risk as voters will be asked in August to support a Middletown public safety income tax levy. But Munafo said not having the funding “may mean we can’t continue our operations.”
Five city council members must support placing a property levy issue on the November ballot.
While Councilman Josh Laubach supports the efforts of the organization and the senior center programs, he doesn’t believe a levy is “a prudent thing to do.” He doesn’t believe every levy request before council should be put up for a vote.
“With all due respect to everyone that’s for this, there’s really not been much of a discussion on this,” Laubach said, “and I think it’s probably the politically easy thing to do to say, ‘Ya, let everybody vote on it.’”
Councilman A.J. Smith, who agreed with many of Laubach’s points, said he needs more information.
“Maybe we should have a work session where the senior center comes with an actual plan, something we can see in writing, something that’s tangible,” he said. “If we’re going to go to the ballot, the tax payers need to know where their money is going and quite frankly we need to know.”
The levy is the last choice for the senior citizens organizations, said Munafo. The nonprofit has reduced costs, renegotiated contracts and has postponed employee’s pension match program. She said more than $100,000 has been cut from yearly expenses.
To raise revenue, Munafo said the center has attempted to increase its banquet business, which has been improving in recent months, and the center’s board is looking to sell some property.
The senior center’s biggest expense, which would what a levy would aid, is the building’s mortgage. It has a balance of $3.6 million, but the most recent appraised value is $2.7 million. Munafo said the bank can’t refinance until the mortgage balance is below the appraised value.
Legislation asking the Butler County Auditor to advise on how much a levy could generate will be ready for council’s consideration at its June 5 meeting. A millage amount would be included, but Munafo said the exact mill amount is still being discussed though she said it would be under 1 mill.
The deadline to place a levy on the Nov. 6 ballot is Aug. 8.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2175 or michael.pitman@coxinc.com. Follow at
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