This week, Hamilton County commissioners are anticipated to vote to find out if three tax levy renewals will seem on the November poll.
A type of levies, a measure to fund psychological well being providers, contains a rise – doubtlessly producing nearly $45 million yearly, in contrast with $36.5 million on the present millage price.
We encourage the three-person fee – Denise Driehaus, Stephanie Summerow Dumas and Alicia Reece – to greenlight the levy so it goes earlier than the voters.
Right here’s why:
The necessity for psychological well being providers is nice
To place it bluntly, we face a psychological well being disaster, one which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As reported by The Enquirer’s Terry DeMio, a survey at the end of 2021 of 26,260 seventh- through 12th-grade students in Hamilton, Butler, Warren and Clermont counties confirmed that greater than half (53.3%) reported excessive ranges of stress. One in 10 stated they’ve suicidal ideas. And 60% battle to tug themselves out of a nasty temper.
Overdose deaths amongst teenagers and younger adults escalated in 2020 and 2021. Southwest Ohio saw a 37% rise from 2019 to 2020 in the deaths of those 15 to 24 years old, Ohio Department of Health records show.
Hamilton County’s Mental Health and Recovery Services Board does not provide direct care; rather, it provides funding and coordinates services from partnering mental health providers for adults and children who are mentally disabled and/or addicted to alcohol and drugs.
An independent analysis of the agency determined the number of residents in need of mental health care will continue to rise, while the number of caregivers is expected to drop due to low compensation and burnout.
Funding has not kept pace with inflation
The current rate of 2.99 mills (costing a property owner $40.93 annually per $100,000 in home value) has been in place since 2008. Based on the Consumer Price Index, the value of a 2008 dollar is expected to be 57 cents in 2027. Without the levy increase, the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board warned it won’t be able to maintain its current level of service, let alone respond to the anticipated increase in the number of people seeking help.
Community support
In addition to being endorsed by the citizen-led Tax Levy Review Committee, the levy renewal and improve unsurprisingly has neighborhood assist. At the July 28 county commission meeting, greater than 40 individuals spoke in favor of the levy, many sharing private tales of how they or relations benefited from providers obtained by the county. It’s not insignificant that there is no such thing as a organized opposition to the levy.
The company has a superb observe report
The Tax Assessment Committee employed a advisor, Well being Administration Associates, to do an in-depth analysis of the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. It discovered the company operates effectively and has constructed strong relationships with suppliers. Total, purchasers that had been surveyed reported satisfaction with the providers they obtained.
Different concerns
Final month, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now the 988 Suicide and Disaster Lifeline) moved from a 10-digit phone number to a three-digit call and text hotline. People battling suicidal ideas or coping with psychological well being points can now dial or textual content 988 – a quantity meant to develop into as well known as 911, the quantity used to acquire emergency police or medical assist. Though it’s not clear what the native influence can be, proponents of the levy say it is going to assist be certain the county is ready for an anticipated improve within the quantity of people that search assist although the hotline.
Additionally a priority: People who sought help for hardships brought on by the pandemic could now not be eligible for providers below Medicaid after a federal COVID-19 reduction program expires in September. Levy organizers say native governments should be ready to fill that anticipated void.
The underside line
Tax will increase are by no means standard. However it’s an ethical crucial that we prioritize funding for psychological well being, even when meaning county leaders want to seek out different cuts to cut back the burden on property homeowners.
The proposed tax levy is much from frivolous; in reality, while you consider inflation, it nonetheless falls under what the levy funded when it was accepted by voters in 2007.
We can also say with confidence that Hamilton County’s Mental Health and Recovery Services Board is something however a bloated paperwork. With roughly 24 full-time workers, it’s lean in contrast with psychological well being boards in Cuyahoga County (53) and Franklin County (55).
And eventually, we have to perceive that for too lengthy we’ve allowed regulation enforcement businesses and the courtroom system to fill the gaps when psychological well being providers are underfunded and overburdened. The security web supplied by the Psychological Well being Restoration Providers Board is a cheaper and humane solution to deal with these in want than counting on the felony justice system.
We urge the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners to ship a transparent message of its priorities with a unanimous vote to place the psychological well being providers levy on the poll in November.
Enquirer Government Editor Beryl Love wrote this editorial on behalf of The Enquirer’s editorial board, which incorporates Opinion and Engagement Editor Kevin Aldridge, Senior Information Director of Content material Jackie Borchardt, and neighborhood board members Jackie Congedo, Mack Mariani and Rachel Citak.
