2008 Woodie Awards
County commissioners reject children services proposal
Vince Alexander
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Community
A plan to put another Butler County Children Services levy on the table for the November election was struck down by the Butler County Commissioners at the March 6 meeting.
Therefore, funding for children services will remain as it is now, said Children Services Community Relations Director Denise Winkler.
According to Butler County administrator Derek Conklin, the timing was off for a levy.
"County commissioners (felt) that a fall levy would not have good timing, especially with the state of the economy," Conklin said.
Winkler said that the Butler County Board of Commissioners wants to make sure that Children Services are running efficiently before bringing another levy to the voters, but as for now there are no other options to get a fall tax increase on the ballot.
Butler County Children Services recently saw an influx of levies in its favor, particularly after Issue 12-a $2 million, five-year replacement levy-was passed by voters March 4. The levy added $5.08 to the property tax of an owner of a $100,000 home. This increase was in addition to an existing Children Services levy passed 5 years ago, which taxed an owner of a $100,000 home $56.17 per year.
According to Conklin, county commissioners feel very fortunate for Issue 12, but also feel that Children Services needs to be more innovative to cut costs.
"We feel that so much more work can be done and that Children Services needs to be more lean and efficient," Conklin said.
According to Winkler, in the last five years Butler County Children Services has seen a 12.3 percent increase per year in investigations of reported
complaints, as well as rising levels in the number of calls, complaints and children coming into care. Winkler said this trend should only increase in the future.
It was this growth that the November levy would have addressed.
"The replacement levy just passed allows Children Services to provide (for) what we are now," Winkler said. "The levy gives money for five years to maintain Children Services, but does not account for the increase of families that need service."
Therefore, funding for children services will remain as it is now, said Children Services Community Relations Director Denise Winkler.
According to Butler County administrator Derek Conklin, the timing was off for a levy.
"County commissioners (felt) that a fall levy would not have good timing, especially with the state of the economy," Conklin said.
Winkler said that the Butler County Board of Commissioners wants to make sure that Children Services are running efficiently before bringing another levy to the voters, but as for now there are no other options to get a fall tax increase on the ballot.
Butler County Children Services recently saw an influx of levies in its favor, particularly after Issue 12-a $2 million, five-year replacement levy-was passed by voters March 4. The levy added $5.08 to the property tax of an owner of a $100,000 home. This increase was in addition to an existing Children Services levy passed 5 years ago, which taxed an owner of a $100,000 home $56.17 per year.
According to Conklin, county commissioners feel very fortunate for Issue 12, but also feel that Children Services needs to be more innovative to cut costs.
"We feel that so much more work can be done and that Children Services needs to be more lean and efficient," Conklin said.
According to Winkler, in the last five years Butler County Children Services has seen a 12.3 percent increase per year in investigations of reported
complaints, as well as rising levels in the number of calls, complaints and children coming into care. Winkler said this trend should only increase in the future.
It was this growth that the November levy would have addressed.
"The replacement levy just passed allows Children Services to provide (for) what we are now," Winkler said. "The levy gives money for five years to maintain Children Services, but does not account for the increase of families that need service."
Be the first to comment on this story