By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Voters showed their gratitude for the work of the Wood County Health Department Tuesday by passing the renewal levy for public health with 71% of the vote.
The low-key levy, juggled as the health department focused on dealing with COVID-19, was enough to convince voters that the public health services were worthy of their continued support.
“We’re definitely thankful for the support we’ve gotten from residents at the ballot box,” said Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Robison. The levy passed by an unofficial count of 45,498 to 18,383.
“We will continue to be good stewards of those dollars,” he said.
Wood County’s health levy began in 1991 and since then the 10-year, 0.5 mill levy has continued to provide a stable base of funding that allowed the health department to significantly expand its programs and services.
Now the levy helps the health department continue to provide those core services, Robison said.
In 2019 the levy generated just shy of $1.6 million to support local public health. Many of the health department’s programs and services do not receive state funding and require local levy dollars to maintain.
“This levy provides core funding for us to ensure services that help people to be as healthy as they can be,” Robison said.
The levy revenue helps fill the gap between state funding and the costs to protect public health, he said. According to 2019 statistics, Ohio ranks 47th out of 50 for per capita funding from the state.
“The only reason we are not ranked lower is because we are tied with Arizona and Indiana” also at the bottom of the funding scale, Robison said.
In Wood County, the levy revenue makes up 27% of the health department’s budget. The funding is used strategically to backfill for funds lacking in several program areas, he said.
The funding supplements essential services like childhood vaccines and the WIC nutrition program.
“So we have the revenues we need to deliver the services residents expect,” Robison said. “Even if our grant funding fluctuates year after year.”
Robison said he not only appreciates the voters’ support, but also the hard work of health department staff and day-to-day support by community partners and residents – especially during the COVID pandemic.
The levy passage will help the health department continue that work, plus provide other core services.
“We want a community that is healthy and thriving,” he said. “That’s what helps us to have a thriving community that people want to live in.”
Part of that work will be done soon as the health department conducts its community health assessment to identify needs in the county.
“That’s going to be really critical,” Robison said.
