By Patrick Baron

PONTIAC – A local Democrat is working to get a health care referendum on the ballot this year.

Murry Mclean spoke with WJEZ’s Todd Wineburner about the referendum. He said the referendum needs a total of 900 signatures to get on the ballot in November. Mclean explained the referendum allows Livingston County residents to guide the county board on how it provides assistance to other residents.

County Board Chair Bob Young has said there aren’t enough people receiving the health care services in the county to justify the necessity to maintain those services. Mclean said the referendum and services are more about people as opposed to finances.

“People will keep coming in and going out of the program. This is not a program that would be for everyone, some people qualify for programs via the state, but many people don’t,” said Mclean. “If they qualified for this program it seems that, as lifetime citizens of this country and this county, we owe them the ability to remain in their own homes.”

Mclean added that even if the program only affects a handful of people, it will be worth it to help those involved keep up with their regular lifestyle without feeling boxed out of their homes.

“It has, as I’ve said, allowed people to maintain some semblance of normality in their lives and to live as best a quality of life as they could,” Mclean said. “I think that has to be worth something.”

Mclean said the referendum doesn’t detail exactly how the county should use those tax dollars. Rather, he said, it provides a starting point for the board to determine the best way to use that money.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].