NEWARK — Licking County’s $6.3 million annual senior levy has a new manager. County commissioners have transferred administration of the Senior Levy funds to Licking County Aging Partners, the county agency dedicated to serving older residents.
The transition took effect Sept. 17, replacing the Senior Levy Advisory Board as the levy’s administrative agent. Under the new arrangement, Aging Partners will allocate the funds, coordinate reporting, and provide fiscal oversight of the levy-funded providers — a move commissioners say streamlines operations and sharpens accountability.
The levy generates about $6.3 million a year supporting programs seniors rely on: daily meals, transportation, in-home support, and wellness programs. County officials stressed that services and programs are not impacted by the change, framing the focus as “transparency, accountability and a commitment to meeting the evolving needs of older adults.”
Providers that want a share of 2027 levy funds have until Oct. 31 to apply. To smooth the transition, the Licking County Foundation is lending a consultant to meet with levy-funded organizations in the coming weeks.
The change was announced in a county news release and reported by the Newark Advocate on Oct. 5. For the county’s growing older population, the commissioners’ message is continuity: same programs, same dollars, new management.