Mahoning commissioners approve renewal levy for county mental health board

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County commissioners this morning passed a resolution to place on the Nov. 3 ballot a 0.5-mill, five-year renewal levy for the county Mental Health and Recovery Board.

The levy, first passed by the mental health board in 1976, generates about $915,000 annually and costs the owner of a $100,000 home about $5.56 a year.

The county’s Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services boards merged Feb. 23 to form the Mental Health and Recovery Board.

An Ohio Attorney General’s Office opinion says the levy may be used for both mental health and substance abuse recovery services because “recovery is a subset of mental health,” said Duane J. Piccirilli, Mental Health and Recovery Board executive director.

The county’s other local Mental Health and Recovery Board levy is a 0.85-mill, five-year measure, which expires at the end of 2019.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com