SENIORS TAX ON BALLOT IN SCOTT COUNTY

BENTON -- Scott County voters will have the opportunity April 1 to approve a quarter-cent sales tax that would benefit senior citizens services.

The tax, which would generate approximately $700,000 annually, would endow a Senior Citizens Services Fund. The fund would help improve and expand services to Scott County residents 60 and older.

Agencies and community programs providing transportation, programming and other services to senior citizens would benefit from the funding, which would be administered by a seven-member board of directors. Programs in the county that would benefit from the sales tax include nutrition centers, Scott County Transit and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

More than 10,000 people over 60 live in Scott County.

"This is the most populated county with senior citizens in Missouri," said Tina McDowell, RSVP administrator. "There are so many residents needing senior citizen services that (agencies are) having to go around asking for individual contributions. Many of us are getting to the point where we can't meet our budgets."

Cape Girardeau County voters approved a similar tax in 1990. Money is collected for the fund through a 5-cent property tax on each $100 of assessed value for county residents. About $290,000 is collected each year.

Dale Rauh, chairman of the board of directors for the Cape Girardeau County Senior Services Fund, said agencies and community programs have benefited since the board began allocating funds in 1991.

"I think the return on the investment is actually four to five times that amount," said Rauh. "Part of the goal was to make sure we have all the areas of the county covered."

Rauh said the fund is helpful because more programming is available and more senior citizens in rural parts of the county can benefit from the programs. Marilyn Schlosser, project manager for Scott County Transit, said those are also reasons many Scott County residents are supporting the tax.

"We're trying to talk to as many groups as we can to make sure everyone is well educated about what it is," Schlosser said. "This is something seniors really need because the services can be very expensive."