On the verge of Ohio's primary, Butler County Democratic Party Chairman Ron Wardrup, announced Feb. 22 his party's support of Issue 12.
Issue 12 is a replacement levy that will provide funding to Butler County Children Services (BCCS), Wardrup said. If passed, the levy will add $5.08 in additional taxes to the owner of a $100,000 home in addition to the existing BCCS levy.
According to Denise Winkler, public relations director for BCCS, the current $2 million, five-year levy which expires in November 2008 taxes an owner of a $100,000 home $56.17 per year. With the additional money proposed in Issue 12, that amount would climb to $61.25 per year.
"Democrats endorse this issue because we feel as (if) in a position of leadership, it is our responsibility to do so," Wardrup said.
The current levy generates approximately $15 million for BCCS or roughly 60 percent of their annual funding.
"This is a minimal increase in the face of the fast growing demands and needs of Butler County Children Services," Winkler said.
According to Wardrup, members of the Democratic Party voted unanimously to support Issue 12.
"The levy will directly help abused and neglected children," Wardrup said. "We feel compelled to enhance BCCS and are very convinced that it is a much needed issue."
According to Winkler, in the last 5 years BCCS has seen a 12.3 percent increase per year in the number of investigations, a rising number of calls and complaints, as well as more and more children coming into care-all while funding has remained constant.
"Children Services provides many services to those who cannot afford them," Nick Noble, a Miami University economics professor said. "Rising levels of inflation and housing prices have occurred over the past five years so this seems like a reasonable increase."
Butler County Republicans have not voiced an opinion in favor or against this issue. Tom Ellis, the executive chairman of the Butler County Republican Party said it is not party policy to endorse specific issues.
"We endorse candidates not issues," Ellis said. "We always invite people to speak on behalf of issues and present their standpoint, but it is party policy not to endorse issues."
Winkler said BCCS needs this levy to pass because of Butler County's fast growing population. She explained that if the levy does not pass, the number of case loads that individual case workers handle will skyrocket since BCCS will not be able to remain fully staffed.
"We provide services to more than 7,000 children in Butler County per year," Winkler said. "If the levy does not pass, our budget would decrease from $27 million to $12 million per year."
Winkler said that BCCS would only be able to provide mandated services which are limited to investigations, case management, foster parent recruitment, training and adoption case management. Currently BCCS provides several additional services such as drug and alcohol treatment, mental health issues, counseling and help seeking proper medications for the children in their care and their family members.
According to Wardrup, children affected by the levy are neglected and found in abusive homes. Wardrup said they are the most fragile citizens in Butler County and he feels very strongly about the need for Issue 12.
"When children are born they have no choice as to what environment they are born into," Wardrup said. "Children are often defenseless and do not know that they are being abused until they get out into society and it is our responsibility to protect them."
