For more than a year Copper Shores Meals on Wheels has had a waiting list for new seniors to receive meals. The list has typically averaged 30 to 40 people at a time, but has spiked to as many as 76. Seniors are waiting on this list for three to five months on a regular basis, and it comes at a cost.
Having a waiting list is challenging for seniors, caregivers, and staff working at Meals on Wheels. Prioritizing senior needs and putting them on a three-to-six month waiting list is harmful and for some, detrimental. The health impacts to seniors on a waiting list can be difficult to measure. Regardless of the wait, living without access to food or being unable to cook leads to many challenges, including compromised health. Worse yet, waiting for food when one is ill or unable to cook can lead to decreased health.
We’re hoping that moving forward, we won't have to continue putting our community elders on a waiting list and wondering of the impact it has on them. If the 2025 Elder Nutrition Services millage proposal passes, the waiting list will be no more. We’ll also be able to expand the program to seniors throughout Houghton County.
According to data provided by staff at Houghton County, the average residential taxable value in 2025 is $45,054, meaning the average household would pay $45.05 per year or $3.75 per month.
Below is a table showing the average residential taxable value in 2025 per local unit of government, what the annual and monthly cost would be. The information comes from a table that’s currently available as a PDF on the Houghton County website related to the proposed jail millage. You can download a copy of the Houghton County PDF here, and view the table below as a PDF here.
It’s important to remember these numbers are the average. Your cost will be unique to your residential taxable value.
To calculate your cost, find your property’s taxable value and multiply it by .001. For instance, if your taxable value is $100,000, this millage will cost you $100 per year ($100,000 x .001). One thing to note, your taxable value is not equal to the cash value of your property. Most often a rule of thumb is that the taxable value is one half of the cash value of the property.
To view a guide on finding your taxable value, visit the State of Michigan's website. Your property's taxable value is listed on every tax bill you receive. If you did not keep a copy of the property tax statements mailed to you, you can contact your city, township or village assessors’ office. You may also look up your statements at BS&A Online, a portal for municipalities to store data - such as property taxes and utility amounts.
To learn more about the 2025 Elder Nutrition millage proposal on the ballot August 5 and the growing need for elder nutrition services in Houghton County, visit coppershores.org/support-seniors.