Senior services levy bound for November ballot

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WILMINGTON — The commissioners office has begun the process to place the senior services levy on the fall ballot.

In a Wednesday appointment with the Clinton County commissioners, their legal counsel Andrew McCoy said a question for them is whether the tax levy issue will be a renewal levy, a replacement levy, or “something additional.”

Ohio law provides generally for those three classifications of tax levies on real property.

Basically, a renewal levy simply renews a tax for an extended period of time with no additional effect on taxes. A replacement levy replaces the current “effective” tax rate back to the original voted rate of the levy, thus causing an increase in taxes. And basically an additional levy is a new levy “which is not already being collected,” according to a ballot questions handbook compiled by Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted.

The county auditor’s office can offer projections on how much funds a particular tax would provide, Clinton County Commissioner President Mike Curry said during Wednesday’s discussion.

In March 2012, nearly 76 percent of Clinton County voters approved a renewal of the county’s 1.5-mills tax levy to fund the local Elderly Services Program. In November 2007, nearly 70 percent of county voters approved the 1.5-mills tax levy — a 0.5-mill increase compared to the prior senior services levy.

According to the Elderly Services Program page on the Clinton County website, that 0.5-mill increase nine years ago would allow the program to serve more people.

In May 2003, about 70 percent of local voters approved a renewal levy. And in May 1998, the first Elderly Services Levy was approved by 60 percent of voters in Clinton County.

Health Department electrical apparatus

Clinton County Health Commissioner Pam Bauer has requested the Board of Clinton County Commissioners spend $2,320 so the health department can acquire an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), upgraded software for the phone system and a monitoring system — all to help protect medication kept in refrigeration at the department.

In spring 2015, almost $99,000 in vaccine could no longer be administered after a Saturday storm knocked out power in the county’s Annex Building where the health department is housed. The vaccine was for the department’s immunization clinics.

On Wednesday, no action was immediately taken on the health commissioner’s request. A temporary UPS is in place and working, according to Clinton County Administrator Mary Ann Foland.

Foland at one point in the discussion said the health department “technically is a tenant in that building for us.”

However, Clinton County Commissioner Kerry Steed later asked, “But are they [health department] viewing us as a landlord or as a potential partner in public safety?”

Later Steed added, “I view the county as a partner agency to the health department because they provide health, safety and wellness to the community, no different as the sheriff’s office does. They [health department] just don’t fall under auspices of the county itself. If there were to be a presentation for a shared expenses [where other entities in the combined health district also contribute to the apparatus cost], I would be an advocate for that. I have no problem supporting the health department.”

In other news:

Commissioners appointed two people as board members to the Clinton County Regional Planning Commission for terms to last until late February 2021: Ryan Bowman and Dauna Armstrong.

During the early part of Wednesday’s commissioners session, county commissioner candidates Greg Grove and Brenda Woods sat in and observed.

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768 or on Twitter @GHuffenberger.

From left, Clinton County Board of Commissioners’ legal counsel Andrew McCoy and Clinton County Job & Family Services Director Kathi Spirk meet with the commissioners Wednesday on the local senior services levy. The levy’s current term will be expiring.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/02/web1_kathi_p_f.jpgFrom left, Clinton County Board of Commissioners’ legal counsel Andrew McCoy and Clinton County Job & Family Services Director Kathi Spirk meet with the commissioners Wednesday on the local senior services levy. The levy’s current term will be expiring.
Health Dept. requests $2,320 to protect medication

By Gary Huffenberger

[email protected]

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