Abused children, mentally ill deserve Valley’s support at polls

Private-sector taxpayers have long been called upon to ensure some of our community’s most vulnerable residents receive the care, protection, safety and assistance they deserve. Far more often than not, voters have answered that call responsibly, compassionately and selflessly by supporting tax levies for public agencies dedicated to delivering health and welfare services to abused children, developmentally disabled residents, senior citizens, the mentally challenged and many other marginalized groups.

In the Mahoning Valley, residents once again are being asked to do so in this fall’s general election. In Mahoning County, voters face a 1.85-mill, five-year replacement levy for children’s services to raise $7.6 million annually.

Similarly, in Trumbull County, voters face a 0.8-mill, 10-year renewal levy for operation of the Children Services agency to raise $2.7 million annually. They also must decide the fate of a 1-mill, 10-year renewal levy to raise $3.3 million annually for alcohol- and drug-addiction programs and mental-health programs operated by the county’s Mental Health and Recovery Board.

The Vindicator strongly urges voters to answer those calls of help with yes votes on each of those three countywide issues.

ISSUE 2 in Mahoning County

In Mahoning County, the Children Services Board seeks approval of Issue 2, a real- estate tax replacement levy that, if approved, would generate $2.8 million more in annual revenue than the combined two levies it would replace. Though the millage remains the same as the total of both levies it would replace, the dollar value of the 1.85 mills has risen because property values in the county have increased measurably since 1976, when one of the original levies first won voter approval.

Yes, that means county taxpayers will have to dig slightly deeper into their pockets to support the CSB. But leaders of the child-welfare agency have made a compelling case for the need for the additional operating revenue and have demonstrated its allegiance to responsible fiscal stewardship over our hard-earned dollars.

First, just as public schools, universities and other social-service agencies have dealt with significant losses in state and federal assistance, so, too, has Mahoning County’s CSB. State aid has fallen 13.71 percent since 2011, and federal revenues have dropped 4.72 percent since then, according to Randall B. Muth, agency director. That means local taxpayers are left to pick up the slack.

Second, the agency has proved it is no spendthrift. Like many exemplary private-sector enterprises, it has learned in recent years that it must accomplish more with fewer resources. In 2013, for example, CSB spent $2.3 million less than it did in 2011. Almost $1 million of that savings came from reducing personnel costs through job eliminations, consolidations or significant salary cuts.

But the time has come when further reductions could deprive thousands of at-risk county children the services they need for their safety and well-being. The need for CSB’s services to help neglected and sexually, emotionally and physical abused children sadly continues to show no sign of decline. According to its 2013 Annual Report, the agency handled 1,658 intake cases last year, compared with 1,447 in 2011. In those two years, temporary or permanent commitments of children to CSB increased from 139 to 198.

“We cannot cut much further without depriving our children of services necessary to ensure their safety and well-being,” Muth said.

Clearly, rescuing Mahoning County’s exploited, abused and neglected children is well worth a slight additional investment from us all. As a result, we urge voters to cast “yes’’ votes on Mahoning County Issue 2 now through Nov. 4.

TRUMBULL COUNTYWIDE LEVIES

Unlike the Mahoning Children Services levy, voters will see no tax increase in the renewal of the 0.8-mill, 10 year renewal for Trumbull County Children Services. Much like Mahoning County, the continued stream of funding is desperately needed to deal with decreased outside funding and increased workload. The agency provided services to 4,424 children in 2013.

Trumbull Children Services also has demonstrated fiscal integrity and accountability to the public. Since 2005, for example, it has shrunk its workforce by 10 percent, and base wages have not been increased since 2010, according to Tim Schaffner, Trumbull Children Services executive director.

Finally, Trumbull County voters will be asked to approve continuation of current funding levels for the Mental Health and Recovery Board. The board and its partner agencies reached out to more than 10,000 county residents last year with family services, mental-health counseling and substance-abuse remedies.

At a time when abuse of illicit drugs, most notably heroin, has reached epidemic levels in our community, this is certainly no time for the public to pull the rug from under this increasingly valuable and needed service provider.