Voters in Defiance, Fulton, Henry and Williams counties will decide the fate of a 7/10ths mill mental health renewal for the Four County ADAMhs Board next month.
The levy, which is for five years, was first approved by voters in 1989. As a renewal, it is not an increase in taxes.
If renewed, the millage would yield just over $2.5 million a year, according to the Defiance County auditor. That amount represents about 29 percent of the board’s total annual revenue.
The ADAMhs Board funds a variety of behavioral health services for persons with limited income.
Last year, 41 percent of ADAMhs Board spending supported mental health services with 42 percent going to alcohol and drug-related services.
Family violence (domestic violence, child sexual abuse and adult sexual trauma) received 2 percent of the funding and integrated healthcare (primary medical care, wellness, and preventive care, dental, lab and pharmacy) received 6 percent of expenditures.
The remainder of the board’s spending was for services for board-funded agencies, two percent, and board administrative costs, six percent.
Eight agencies receive funding from the ADAMhs Board: Maumee Valley Guidance Center, Recovery Services of Northwest Ohio, Ohio GuideStone (formerly A Renewed Mind), The Center for Child and Family Advocacy, New Home Development Company, Quadco Rehabilitation Center, The PATH Center (operated by Northwest Ohio Community Action Commission) and Health Partners of Western Ohio (The Bryan Community Health Center).
Last year, those agencies provided ADAMhs Board funded services to more than 11,000 persons. Some 4,749 adults received clinical behavioral health services, and 1,638 children received clinical behavioral health services.
Additionally, Health Partners of Western Ohio provided integrated healthcare to 6,202 persons across the four county area.
The cost of the seven-tenths mill renewal on a $100,000 home would be $20. Early voting has already started for the November 7 election.