The Lake County government recently approved Senior Tax Levy funding for Willoughby Hills. The funding was in the amount of $35,000, and while the amount is somewhat short of the city’s request for approximately $67,000, it’s encouraging the city is finally being recognized as an important outlet for senior services, said Mayor Chris Hallum. “Our recreation coordinator is passionate about bringing more programs to our seniors,” he said. “We had some great speakers this year and had more lined up for next year.” Hallum is encouraging seniors who are not currently members of the senior center to consider joining. “The cost is only $7 per year for an individual or $10 for a couple,” he said. The city’s recreation department can be reached at 440-975-3540 for membership and programming inquires. In December 2023, Willoughby Hills was denied Senior Tax Levy funds, and earlier this year seniors and city officials expressed their concerns to the Lake County commissioners about the denial of funds to the city. Lake County Administrator Jason Boyd said he became deeply involved with the levy, which has been around for the last three decades, in 2012. The vast majority of people do not know how the funds were distributed prior to the county’s involvement, he said. Boyd previously reported that the denial of funds was due to there not being enough resources in the county to fund all requests received. “It is difficult,” he said. “The emerging needs that are coming at us are in addition to and beyond what happens in a senior center. That is no disrespect to senior centers. They do a phenomenal job.”