Amy Foley, executive director of HOPE Community Center for Mental Wellness, located in Amelia, stands outside Amelia Elementary, located at 5 E. Main St., on Nov. 3, 2015 to ask voters to support the Mental Health and Recovery Board .50 mill, with .25 increase, renewal levy. HOPE Community Center for Mental Wellness is fully funded by the MHRB.
By Megan Alley
Sun staff

Clermont County voters have approved both property tax renewals on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Issue 11, a five-year .5 mill with an additional 0.25 mill Mental Health and Recovery Board tax that will raise about $3.1 million annually for mental health and drug treatment and prevention services, passed with 52.83 percent of the vote. The final tally was 29,017 to 25,911, according to unofficial results at the Clermont County Board of Elections.

Issue 12, a five-year .8 mill levy for Children’s Protective Services passed with about 70.61 percent of the vote, according to unofficial results. The final vote was 38,779 to 16,140.

The two taxes will cost the owner of a $100,000 home a total of $47.20 a year.

The current MHRB levy, which has been in place since 1981, was set to expire Dec. 31, 2016.

MHRB Executive Director Karen Scherra has stated that MHRB needs the renewal with a .25 mill increase in order to fill the financial gap left by state budget cuts and to keep up with increased demand for services.

“I’m just really, really grateful that Clermont County voters heard our message and supported the increased funding for drug and alcohol and mental health services,” Scherra said.

She added, “I’m pretty sure that the heroin issue helped people recognize the need for these services.”

The current CPS levy was also set to expire Dec. 31, 2016.

Local funding through the levy provides 49 percent of the CPS budget, according to Judy Eschmann, Director of Clermont County Department of Job and Family Services, which includes CPS. The balance of the budget comes from state and federal funding.

Bob Krekeler, of Tate Township, voted in support of both levies.

“I voted yes because of the children,” Krekeler said. “Anything for a child, I vote yes.”

Shelby Baird, of Bethel, voted against both levies.

“I didn’t really research them too deeply, but, sometimes, it’s taxes for the sake of taxes,” Baird said. “If they’re truly hurting for money, they would have made a lot bigger issue of it than I think they did. “

He added, “They’re just looking for ways to not have to do cost savings.”

Peter Williams, of Union Township, voted in support of both levies.

“They do a good job with what they have,” he said.