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STEUBENVILLE -- Jefferson County's senior services levy will still be collected even if UPMC completes its acquisition of Trinity Health System, but who administers the funding would have to change.
The county’s Prime Time senior services program is currently administered by Tri-State Health Services.
In a recent opinion, Assistant Prosecutor Shawn Blake advised commissioners that if the deal is finalized, "then Tri-State Health Services would likely cease to exist." If it does, he said levy proceeds would continue to be collected and the revenue would be deposited in a special account that can only be used to fund services for seniors.
Blake also pointed out there’s a “strong likelihood” that the deal will be finalized.
"The board of County Commissioners has both the authority and the practical obligation to designate a new public or non-profit private agency to receive and administer the funds for the same purpose," Blake wrote in his four-page legal opinion. "Commissioner inaction does not stop the levy but, rather, it creates a growing pool of restricted funds that are legally stranded in the special fund, unable to be spent or redirected without affirmative commissioner action."
Assistant Auditor Mike Warren said the opinion, in short, means that "If Tri-State Health Services ceases to exist, the levy would continue to exist and at that point the commission would have the authority to appoint another agency or agencies."
The question arose two weeks ago after representatives of Our Place, an activity and resource center, told commissioners they'd been hearing “significant concerns” within the senior population regarding the “administration and effectiveness” of the levy, as well as what services they can expect if UPMC assumes control of the THS network and Prime Time senior services program. Seniors also are concerned with how resources are distributed, they said.
A Trinity Health System spokeswoman previously said Prime Time services would continue even if the hospital changes hands and pointed out the program had delivered just under 375,000 meals and provided more than 14,000 transportation services during the 2026 fiscal year.
Blake pointed out commissioners aren't "limited to the specific entity named in the levy ballot language" and could work with one or more public or nonprofit private agencies to provide food and social services to the county's senior population, provided those agencies qualify.
"I think having a discussion about seniors and Prime Time is a little premature, but it's good to be prepared," Commissioner Tony Morelli said, adding that it's good to know they'd have options. As commissioners, he added, “We all want what's best for all the seniors.”
Commissioner Jake Kleineke said they and Commissioner Eric Timmons could, should they so choose, re-designate how the levy funds are distributed.
"As long as they are providing the same services as outlined in the ballot language," Warren clarified.