Knox County senior levy committee recommends $1,116,500 in allocations; commissioners to consider Thursday

Members of the Knox County senior levy committee presented their funding recommendations to the Board of Commissioners on March 10, 2026, asking the board to place the proposals on the next agenda for formal action.

"We had to cut out about $100,000," said Danny Nugan, a committee member who led the presentation. The committee said the levy produces about $1.1 million annually but that roughly $125,000 is earmarked for adult protective services "off the top," leaving less available for other programs.

The committee recommended total allocations of $1,116,500 to local senior services. Major line items included $580,000 for Station Break (meals and transportation), $215,000 for a county center social services provider, $80,000 for Sanctuary Social Services in Danville, $81,500 for the Fredericktown Senior Activity Center, $70,000 for Knox Health Planning (to hire a nurse for in-home wellness visits and equipment assistance), and smaller awards for farmer's-market token programs and local Y and community centers. The committee provided a corrected figure during the presentation, noting one program's recommended amount was $15,000 rather than $20,000.

Committee members described site visits to service providers across the county and highlighted program features commissioners said they observed: volunteer-driven meal delivery routes, in-home wellness checks that can catch exploitation or urgent needs, and community partnerships that provide meals and activities.

"A lot of what we're trying to see ... is community services to keep the citizen in the home as long as possible," Nugan said, describing the committee's priorities.

Committee members and commissioners flagged a central concern: if a future change eliminates the property-tax levy that funds these services, providers would face a funding shortfall. The committee said some services would have to be reduced or restructured if levy revenue disappears, but providers expressed a willingness to seek alternative funding streams where possible.

The Board of Commissioners did not vote on the committee's recommendations at the March 10 meeting. Commissioners said they would place the recommendations on the Thursday agenda for formal consideration so contracts can be issued to awardees if approved.