By Blake Haas

LIVINGSTON COUNTY – Livingston County voters need 900 signatures to see a new referendum on the November ballot they could change the way their tax dollars are spent.

Citizens in Livingston County will have the option to tell the Livingston County Board how they feel their tax dollars should be spent come Nov. when coming to home health care.

Representative of the Livingston County Democrats, Murry McLean, said he’s hoping the new referendum helps Livingston County citizens.

“(The referendum) is to allow the citizens of Livingston County to express their feelings on how we should take care of citizens of the county,” McLean said. “We need 900 signatures to get this issue on the ballot and the wording of the referendum is ‘should the Livingston County Board maintain an adequate budget to provide county residents with the support they need to experience and maintain independent living,’ and the answer would be yes or no.”

McLean said the key to the new referendum is that it effects both sides of the isle and is a win for everyone if they achieve the needed 760 more signature in the next 42 days.

“This effects people on both sides of the isle (and) it is really just a benefit for citizens,” added McLean. “I have seen some citizen from Board members that say the wording is a little vague. This is just basically to give the board direction, the job of the Board is to come up with a program and figure out how to fund it, and figure out what it will do.”

McLean added that county funded home health care has been a success in the past, and could be a huge success in the future.

“It has allowed people to maintain some semblance of normality in their lives and to live the best lives that they could,” said McLean. “I think that has to be worth something.”

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].