Wood County voters on November 7th will be asked to RENEW the 1.3 Mill Human Services Levy.
As Chairman of the Protective Services Levy Committee, I would like to share with you some very important facts about the Levy:
- This is not a new tax. It is a renewal of the same 1.3 mill levy that Job and Family Services has had since 1987. The number of mills has never been increased.
- Wood County is the only county.in the state to reduce or suspend collection of a levy six times over the last 30 years. We only take what we need and are responsible to the taxpayer.
- We need the levy because Ohio is the 50th in the country for state funding support of child abuse programs. Without local support, the program would be severely weakened.
- The levy will be in effect for ten (10) years and will cost the owner of a $100,000 house approximately $37.00 per year.
- This levy supports the investigation of reports of suspected child abuse and neglect, and elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
- Wood County Children Services investigated 894 cases of suspected child abuse and neglect in 2016.
- Adult Protective Services unit investigated 260 complaints regarding the alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the elderly in 2016.
- The 2017 investigation numbers could set all-time records for both Child Abuse and Elder Abuse investigations.
- Opioid abuse is a contribution of the increase in the number and complexity of these cases.
Renewal of this levy is absolutely essential to the continuous funding of human services for children, families, and elderly citizens in Wood County. On November 7th, please vote to approve the renewal of the Human Services Levy.
Sincerely,
Phil Rudolph, Jr.
Vice President, Business Development
Rudolph Libbe Group
