WILMINGTON — The Clinton County Department of Job & Family Services will get some much-needed help as voters convincingly passed a levy Tuesday, with unofficial totals of 8,431 for and 6,165 against.

The purpose of the 1.1-mill additional Clinton County Children Services levy is to generate funds to protect a greater number of children due to the substance abuse scourge.

Clinton County Child Protection Unit is mandated to investigate child abuse and neglect, provide services to children and families, and to provide a safe home for children when they can no longer be with their families.

About 90 percent of all children currently in the custody of Clinton County Job & Family Services have been exposed to drugs.

From 2014 through 2017 in Clinton County, there was a 102 percent increase in the number of children requiring court-ordered protection. Also, there were 56 percent more children in foster care in 2017 than in 2014 in Clinton County.

The 1.1-mill, five-year tax levy will cost a $100,000 homeowner about $38.50 annually.

Blan tax

The Village of Blanchester returned to voters in hopes that a 0.5 percent income tax — a decreased percentage from the last one that failed which was 1 percent — would gain voters’ approval, but it was voted down by a 791-449 vote according to unofficial totals.

If approved, it would have gone into effect Jan. 1, 2019 for five years. The money would have gone to Blanchester’s general fund, to help the police department, and to fund street repairs.

Commissioner

In the Clinton County commissioner race to fill the seat of the retiring Pat Haley, Republican Mike McCarty won by a wide margin over Democrat Rhonda Wheasler, 11,285-3,319.