Missoula County voters overwhelmingly back mill increase for Missoula Aging Services

After a hearty campaign that drew the support of community leaders, a levy placed before voters to increase funding for Missoula Aging Services passed Tuesday night, and easily so.

By Wednesday morning, the levy had won the support of 19,726 voters to 8,099 opposed. Passage would mark the first time in nearly two decades the organization has had a funding increase.

“We're really grateful for this community's support,” organization CEO Lisa Sheppard said Tuesday night. “Aging is an issue that touches absolutely everybody. This is going to help us keep up with growth in the aging population.”

Founded in Missoula in 1984, the organization is working through a number of challenges ranging from staffing shortages to an aging demographic that has increased as much as 40% over the last decade. It’s also operating at a funding level that hasn’t increased in years.

Voters approved a flat 2-mill rate of $350,000 in 2007 to fund the organization. However, it provided no mechanism for inflation or any way to respond to an increase in service demand.

Missoula County commissioners agreed to place the levy on the ballot, and it won general support from the Missoula City Council. Voter approval will repeal the old mills and replace them with 4 mills.

That will amount to $16.20 on a home valued at $500,000, or around $1.54 each month.

“This means we'll be able to better keep up with that growth while providing all the support we offer for older adults and their family so our seniors can age safely at home and live a good quality of life,” Sheppard said.