Health board raises fee for vital records

The cost of the records will go from $18 to $23 on Oct. 16.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Board of Health has approved a $5 increase in the cost of vital records, birth abstracts, and birth and death certificates.

Neil H. Altman, city health commissioner, said he received correspondence from the State Registrar of the Ohio Office of Vital Statistics, referring to a state law that was passed changing the fee for vital records.

The health board adopted the $5 increase last month.

Altman said the Ohio Department of Health will use the additional revenue to:

UEnhance and maintain the electronic death and birth registration system used by more than 130 birthing facilities, 124 local registrars and 1,400 funeral homes throughout Ohio.

UInstall and maintain a database to electronically verify all registered vital events by more than 50 state entities and federal agencies.

UProtect and promote public health and improve health of all Ohioans through data-driven public health programs and fund strategic initiatives at ODH.

URegister vital events of about 156,000 births, 108,000 deaths, 80,000 marriages, 57,000 paternity actions and 45,000 divorces annually.

UProvide funds for continued modernization efforts to move to a secure, paperless system from one centralized database.

The cost for a new record will be $23 and will begin to be collected Oct. 16. Mailed requests postmarked before Oct. 16 will be honored at the old rate of $18. Requests received with a postmark after Oct. 16 will be charged the new $23 rate.

Altman stresses the importance of keeping these documents in a safe, protected, fireproof space.

“You need your birth certificate to enter school, apply for a Social Security number, travel abroad, obtain a passport, and countless other important matters,” he said. “People should know where they are at all times, and they should be well protected.”