It is the intent of the Montana Association of
Counties to support legislation designating revenue sources to support
aging services in Montana.
WHEREAS, there are nearly 160,000
Montana residents aged 60 and older[1]and
approximately one-third[2]
rely on senior programs to meet their basic needs; and
WHEREAS, current population
estimates show that there will be 350,000 Montana residents over the age of 60
by the year 2025[3]; and
WHEREAS, it has been the policy of
the state of Montana to provide services to older Montanans to “maintain an
independent lifestyle, avoid unnecessary institutional care, and live in
dignity”[4];
and
WHEREAS, current funding of aging
services is inadequate to meet the present-day needs[5]
of home-delivered and congregate meals, home health care, transportation,
respite care, ombudsman and adult protective services; and
WHEREAS, there is a rapidly growing
need for Montana to prepare for the fiscal consequences of Montana’s growing,
aging population (baby boomers); and
WHEREAS, Montana counties have
traditionally been steadfast supporters of local aging services; and
WHERAS, county mill levies for
senior programs are used for direct support and are also used to help match
federal dollars; and
WHEREAS, property taxes are
increasing and there is a critical need to find other revenues to be used to
match federal dollars for aging services; and
WHEREAS, it is neither fiscally nor
politically prudent to rely on increasing property or income taxes to fund the
anticipated needs for aging services; and
WHEREAS, the Montana legislative
body has struggled for several decades to achieve a consensus on finding new
revenues to fund essential state services; and
WHEREAS, there is a need for
increasing state revenues in a broad-based tax reform proposal sufficient to
meet the current and anticipated needs in aging services; and
WHEREAS, Montana must act now to
avert a future crisis in the service delivery system to older Montanans.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Montana Association of Counties support legislation to
designate revenue sources to finance expected senior program cost increases
attributable to the increasing number of aging Montanans and encourage to
revenue to be found through tax reform.
SPONSOR: All Districts
PRIORITY: High
REFERRED TO: MACo Taxation, Finance and
Budget Committee, MACo Health and Human Services Committee
ADOPTED: Annual Conference, Missoula,
MT
September
29, 2004