WILMINGTON — Prior to deciding whether to place an additional children services levy on the ballot, the county commissioners will have a comprehensive performance audit performed at the Clinton County Department of Job and Family Services (JFS).

The performance audit will evaluate operations, financial processes, and best practices “to ensure everything is being done that can be done, before asking Clinton County voters to consider an additional children services levy,” stated a media release issued jointly by the three commissioners.

“The county commissioners must be confident that adding dollars to an already significant budget at the Department of Job and Family Services would be the only alternative, and putting an additional levy on the ballot would serve to remediate the problems, and help achieve the desired results,” the media release stated.

An additional Children Services levy is needed, JFS leaders have said, to meet the costs of a greater number of children in foster care or under court-ordered protective supervision.

As previously reported, the funding shortfall is due to a substance-abuse scourge in the county that has led to an increased need to place children of addicted parents in foster care, or, because of an imminent safety threat, in the households of relatives or friends.

After noting the JFS director has asked commissioners to pass a formal resolution to place a request for an additional levy on the November ballot, the media release stated, “The commissioners take this responsibility extremely seriously. Already in 2018, the county commissioners have provided millions of county dollars in the battle against drugs, particularly the opioid epidemic.

“These dollars have funded Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Court, the respective probation offices, sheriff’s office, coroner’s office, emergency responders, prosecuting attorney, Health Department and Job and Family Services, as well as other agencies offering education, interdiction, treatment and post-treatment options,” added the commissioners’ release.

On Tuesday, Clinton County JFS Director Kathi Spirk said, “We welcome the opportunity to work as a team with our county commissioners and the community for the best interest of the children of Clinton County, the innocent victims of the drug crisis.”

She added JFS is excited to find solutions and welcomes a comprehensive performance audit to determine best strategies going forward.

“Along with this audit, Job and Family Services and our Child Protection Unit have reached out to our local and state partners for assistance and confirmation of promising practices,” Spirk said.

Spirk concluded, “We are confident that together, we can assure safety and security for the children entrusted to the care and protection of Clinton County. Together, we can make a difference!”

In late April, Clinton County JFS Deputy Director Gina Speaks-Eshler said the reason why the Child Protection Unit is able to “squeak by this year” is because county commissioners had authorized an advance on Children Services levy money and will be asked to do so again later in the year.

In February, Clinton County commissioners voted 3-0 to authorize a funds advance so the Child Protection Unit would not run out of money for child protection custody.

Speaks-Eshler also said in April that there needs to be an ongoing source of new revenue to continue to do business at a level which children around the county need.

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.