Jackson County voters will decide this November whether to approve dedicated funding for senior services, a move supporters say is long overdue in the Kansas City metro area.
County Executive Frank White. and county legislators celebrated with the ceremonial signing of the “Jackson County Seniors Count” ballot initiative last week at PACE KC, marking a milestone in a years-long effort to support the county’s senior population.
The initiative, which Jackson County residents will vote on during the November general election, solidifies funding to provide essential services to help seniors live independently, including home-delivered meals, senior centers, home safety repairs, and transportation. If approved, it would establish sustainable funding for these services, addressing a gap in the county’s support for its elderly residents.
Across Missouri, 55 other counties have already implemented similar measures, often called senior levies.
The levy asks taxpayers to pay 5 cents per $100 of assessed value of both real and personal property. Assessed value is typically 19% of market value for residential property. So for an average price Jackson County home of $250,000, has an assess value of $47,500 and would pay a levy for the Senior tax of $23.75.
According to advocates, if passed, it would establish a dedicated funding stream for senior services, which would generate between $8 and $10 million a year. The funds would be managed by a county-appointed Senior Levy Board and the fund would be awarded similar to charitable grants.
Jackson County Legislators Jalen Anderson and Donna Peyton sponsored the ordinance.
“Our top priority as a government should be to ensure our seniors are safe, well cared for, and protected,” said Anderson, who represents the county’s District 1 at-large seat. “We all have family members who may need a little help and this initiative is about providing that support.”
Peyton, the District 2 at-large legislator, emphasized the initiative’s potential impact on seniors’ quality of life.
“It embodies our commitment to ensuring that no senior in Jackson County has to choose between staying in their home and receiving the care they need,” said Peyton.
The push for the ballot measure came from a coalition of more than 50 senior-serving agencies and nonprofits.
Janet Baker, executive director of the KC Shepherd’s Center and one of the leads in the coalition backing the levy, highlighted the importance of supporting the county’s seniors.
“Our seniors have paid taxes to support children and schools, libraries and more,” Baker said. “They are telling us that it’s their turn to receive the benefits they vote to provide everyone else.”
The ballot initiative comes as Jackson County, like many areas across the United States, faces an aging population. According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, about 15% of the county’s population is 65 or older, a percentage that has been steadily increasing over the past decade.
Supporters argue that investing in senior services can lead to long-term cost savings by reducing healthcare expenses and delaying or preventing the need for institutional care. They also point to the social and emotional benefits for seniors who are able to remain in their homes and communities.
