County Executive Steve Schuh has reduced the Department of Aging and Disabilities’ Senior Center Plus Program Fee by 50% to make services more affordable for county seniors.

“We need to stop ‘nickel and diming’ the citizens of this county,” said Schuh. “This morning, I have directed our Department of Aging and Disabilities to reduce the Senior Center Plus Program Fee by 50% to help make care more affordable for our seniors.”

The Senior Center Plus program fee will be reduced from $40 per day to $20 per day. This Department of Aging and Disabilities’ program offers a level of care between independent senior activity center participation and adult day care. The program offers opportunities for socialization and recreation for older adults and people with disabilities over the age of 55 in the senior activity center environment while providing valuable respite for caregivers.

The county executive also will introduce legislation to make pet ownership and new business formation more affordable in the county. Legislation reducing or eliminating fees will be presented as follows:

  • Dog Licenses Fee: Legislation would reduce the cost of a county dog license from $10 (unsprayed dog or cat) and $4 (spayed dog or cat) to $5 and $2 to encourage pet adoption.
  • Spay and Neuter Fee: Legislation would eliminate the county spay and neuter fee charged by Animal Control to encourage responsible pet ownership.
  • Certificate of Occupancy Fee: Legislation would eliminate the fee for an occupancy permit for businesses.

The fee reductions and eliminations are a result of a comprehensive fee study undertaken by the Budget Office, which was tasked with making recommendations for eliminating or reducing the overall fee burden on county residents. The Senior Center Plus program fee reduction is effective immediately; the bills are subject to county council approval.