“We definitely are going to do a thorough space planning and utilization review, and that will lead us down the path of what we might need to do to the structure and whether a bond issue would be required down the road,” Longe said. Services offered by NEXT NEXT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the local aging community through services and resources for people over age 50. They currently operate out of Midvale School without a comprehensive lease, but once they move into the new building, they will have more space to provide helpful services to seniors. “We have programming that ranges from fitness to arts to travel to lifelong learning and enrichment, as well as support services that allow community members to age in place safely and independently,” Braun said. They are up to over 2,300 members, and they currently serve an additional 400 members in the community with their support services. “Our building here with just 10,000 square feet and four classrooms and a lobby is just not adequate to meet the needs of this growing population,” Braun said. Braun emphasized the importance of supporting vulnerable members of the community. “Up until this point, city taxpayers in Birmingham haven’t been called on to do so because we have had a different arrangement, but now that our arrangement is changing, it is important that the community understands the need and the respect and honor that goes into caring for our most vulnerable residents — and school children and our older adults are certainly in that category, and I think that is what good societies do,” Braun said. More information A Q&A on the proposed senior millage is available at bhamgov.org/about_birmingham/city_departments/finance_department/proposed_senior_millage. A group called Citizen Supporting Seniors is made up of citizens advocating for the millage. They can be found at citizenssupportingseniors.org.

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