183,988 / 68.18% Yes votes ...... 85,879 / 31.82% No votes

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AGAINST THE TAX LEVY

What the levy would do: Federal and State mandated services to children are provided through the Hamilton County Children's Services (HCCS), a division of Hamilton County Job and Family Services (HCJFS). Levy funds provide the local matching funds required to annually receive the approximately $54 million in state and federal revenues. The levy supports the system of public and private agencies that work to protect disadvantaged children of Hamilton County. The system includes: HCJFS and HCCS, Hamilton County Juvenile Court and Hillcrest Training School, Guardians Ad Litem (children's representatives in court), Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office and private and public child-serving agencies (such as foster care, mental health services, emergency housing and training).

To comply with mandates Children's Services:

• Operates 241-KIDS, a 24-hour telephone line for reporting suspected abuse and neglect.
• Investigates allegations of abuse, neglect and dependency.
• Provides services to stabilize families so children can remain safely in the home.
• When necessary for safety, places children in temporary care with relatives, foster care or in institutional settings.
• Seeks protective, temporary or permanent custody of children through Juvenile Court.
• Prepares children for adoption. Provides post-adoption services.
• Trains older teens in independent living skills.
• Provides funds for the operation of the Hillcrest Training School for adolescents.

Background: Ohio law requires the county to provide services to children and families who are affected by abuse, neglect or dependency. Children's Services is a division of the Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services. The Children's Services Levy was first established in 1986 by a 1.42 mill levy with subsequent approvals by voters in 1991 (1.62 mill), in 1996 (2.77mill) and in 2001 (2.77 mill).

Findings of the Tax Levy Review Committee (TLRC): Hamilton County Job and Family Services (HCJFS) provide Children's Services in a professional and cost effective manner. Evidence supports the need for the various services funded by this tax levy.

The TLRC recommends that the County Commissioners place on the November 2006 ballot a tax levy to support Children's Services. In addition, the TLRC recommends that the County Commissioners direct Job and Family Services to consider certain operational reforms. One of the functions of HCJFS is the removal of children for situations of abuse or neglect. Accordingly the TLRC recommends the formation of a Citizen's Review Panel (CRP) to (i) provide taxpayer oversight of the policies and practices employed by the agency in the removal of children from homes; and (ii) receive and hear taxpayer complaints. All recommendations of the TLRC are considered by the BOCC but may not necessarily be implemented.

Those who support the levy say:
1. Hamilton County is mandated by law to provide services to children at risk. Levy funds are used to leverage federal and state grants.
2. Children's Services helps one in every 28 county children.

Those against the levy say:
1. There needs to be a more comprehensive program than what is currently available.
2. This levy does not cover funding for Children with Medical Handicaps, which now comes from the Health and Hospitalization Levy. The levy should cover all associated costs of the Department of Children's Services.

Auditor's Report on Levy Information

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