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Although a decision about what will be done with a projected $21 million surplus in the senior services levy is still likely several weeks away, officials on both sides of the discussion say they have already made up their minds.

On one side are two commissioners — Gregory Jolivette and Donald Dixon — who believe at the very least that a portion of the excess should be given back to voters. In fact, Dixon has said all of the money should be rolled back to taxpayers.

On the other side are Commissioner Charles Furmon, senior service agencies and the board that runs them, the Butler County Elderly Services Program. They feel the projected fund balance of the levy voters approved in 2005 is in good hands and should be spent on what it was intended for — providing programming for older adults to keep them in their homes.

"It was never intended that the levy do anything else than keep seniors in their homes," said Butler County ESP Board President Helen Smith. "This has to be earmarked for the folks at home."

The county's senior programming administrator, Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio, informed commissioners last month that a $21 million surplus was possible by the time the five-year levy runs its course in 2010.

Shortly after that, Jolivette said it would be his desire to give a portion of the money back in the form of property tax rebates. Initially, Jolivette said he would want $14 million set aside for property owners, and the rest could be used by senior agencies for capital improvement projects and other programming.

He has since said that it's still too early in the process for hard numbers, and that property owners would likely get a percentage return based on the amount of taxes they pay.

Dixon, however, has said all of the money should be given back to voters. He said giving senior agencies a portion would mean "they'd just find something to spend it on."

Officials from the COA and the county's ESP Board said there are several reasons for the projected surplus — and the $14 million they have in their coffers now. These include a waiting list that existed in 2004-05 but was cut in half by the time levy funds started rolling in; changes in the state tax structure; being "forced" to round the levy millage — originally 1.95 mills — up to the nearest tenth of a percent; and "flat" client growth after the levy's approval.

In the coming weeks, county officials will be working with the auditor's and treasurer's offices to determine exactly how a property tax rollback would be administered.

Meanwhile, those in opposition of the plan have said they will work to make their voices heard.

"We know this (senior) program has been growing and that it will continue to grow," said Suzanne Burke, chief executive officer of COA.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2112 or dgreber@coxohio.com.