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Mental health agency cautioned on tax hike
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - July 09, 2012)
Mental health agency cautioned on tax hike
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Geauga County Commissioners cautioned mental health officials last week against putting all their eggs in one basket as they head to the ballot this year with a tax increase.
Commissioners asked James Adams, executive director of Geauga Geauga County Mental Health and Recovery Services, to reconsider combining a renewal levy with an additional levy this fall.
"I'm concerned that you could be giving them an all-or-nothing proposition," Commissioner Tracy Jemison said of going to voters. "You could end up with nothing."
Commissioner Mary Samide agreed, saying that lumping the two together doesn't give voters an option of approving at least the renewal.
The commissioners offered their comments after Mr. Adams presented plans for seeking a renewal of a five-year, 0.5-mill levy and adding 0.25 mill in additional taxes. Thus the voters would be asked to approve a five-year, 0.75-mill levy.
Mr. Adams said the increase is needed to offset about $1.7 million in lost revenues over the past three years.
"As has been the case every year for the past three years, shrinking federal, state and local revenue prohibited the board from funding a significant number of programs again this year, even as waiting lists increased." He said the agency recently cut funding for about 18 of its programs because of the budget constraints.
He said the agency serves about 9,000 people in clinical services. Over the last two years, he said, the hospital has seen a record number of patients with psychiatric problems, outpacing what the agency saw over the previous 15 years.
Mr. Adams said the tragic shootings at Chardon High School in February have contributed to an increased demand for services.
He said the levy would replace about 40 percent of the dollars lost over the past three years. "While this remains less than half of our lost revenue, the board believes it is a prudent measure in these difficult financial times and will help critical care services meet the growing needs of the community," Mr. Adams said.
He said mental health officials believe the amount sought is so minimal, about $10 to $12 per $100,000 of property valuation, that the issue could succeed even with the increase. "The dollars are just so minimal we thought it was time to go for it," he said.
Commissioners tabled the issue for a week to allow mental health officials to review the proposal before deciding what will go on the ballot.
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