The case for the Ashland County human/social services $2.8-mill levy
Grant Ritchey
ASHLAND – Ashland County Department of Job & Family Services and Council on Aging are partnering to support a human/social services levy.
Sandy Enderby, executive director for Ashland County Council on Aging, and JFS Director Peter Stefaniuk are asking Ashland County registered voters to vote for the 2-mill additional tax levy for human/social services, which would last for five years.
More:Ashland County election ballot has been certified, here is the list of candidates
The levy would generate roughly $2.8 million in funding annually for the agencies.
If approved, the property tax increase will take effect Jan. 1 and would cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $70 per year. The increase would cost homeowners less than $6 a month to help both organizations, according to a previous Times-Gazette report.
If the levy passes, Enderby's agency will continue its services and increase staffing where needed, particularly in the home-delivered meal program, she said.
Ashland County JFS will use the levy funds to maintain foster home agencies as well as increase wages for social workers.
The levy would completely replace the existing Ashland County Council on Aging 0.6 mill levy, according to the Human Services Levy Committee.
Since 2007, when the original levy was passed, the number of home-delivered meals to seniors has increased from 109 to 693 clients — a 537% increase, according to the council on aging records.
Records also show the number of home-delivered meals has increased from 12,637 to 93,890 meals delivered — a 624% increase. Here is the breakdown of meals delivered:
- 2007: 12,637 meals (when the .6 mill levy was established)
- 2019: 55,432 meals
- 2020: 95,958 meals
- 2021: 82,747 meals as of Oct. 19, 2021
The reason for the increase in deliveries and clients is partially due to Ashland County's population aging, Enderby said. More seniors mean an increase in calls for service and meal deliveries.
The COVID-19 pandemic also plays a role, with some seniors cautious of leaving their home for a grocery store trip, she said.
Drug overdoses have steadily increased throughout recent years
The levy would affect Job and Family Services in three key areas: staff retention during the drug epidemic, addressing the high cost of caring for foster children and maintaining agency foster homes.
Drug overdoses have steadily increased in recent years, according to Ashland Police Department drug complaint records. In 2018, there were 18 cited drug overdose calls made to APD. As of Oct. 20, 2021, the number is 32.
While overdose calls have risen, drug complaint calls have fallen, according to APD records. In 2019, APD received 305 drug complaint calls. In 2020, it was 226 and as of Oct. 20, 2021, it's 188 calls.
Ashland County Sheriff's Office has seen a stark increase then fall in narcotic calls, according to Ashland County Sheriff's Office records. Here is the breakdown:
- 2017: 80 calls
- 2018: 127 calls
- 2019: 146 calls
- 2020: 49 calls
- 2021: 42 calls as of Oct. 20, 2021
As for foster homes, Ashland County currently has 33 foster homes, with 20 children housed, Stefaniuk said.
What happens with JFS and Council of Aging if the levy fails?
If the levy does not pass, JFS and Council of Aging would have to go back to the drawing board and find alternative solutions for their increasing costs.
"It would mean struggling with being understaffed," Stefaniuk said. "This levy would go a long way to help with that [increased staffing.] We need to be fully staffed, we need people to stay."
The base rate for JFS employees is $16.73 an hour and Stefaniuk would like to see the rate increase in hopes that it'll lower turnover rates within JFS.
"My agency has never had a levy before," Stefaniuk said. "[This is] the most critical time that we need a levy. I think this is a reasonable, modest request of the community to support our work."
If the levy passes, Council on Aging is lookingadd two programs: the caregiver relief program and a guardianship visitors program.
The relief program would allow a caretaker, such as a spouse caring for their significant other, to have some time away to de-stress, finish chores or catch up with friends, while a staff member looks after the senior, Enderby said.
The guardianship visitors program would allow a Council on Aging employee to check on a resident to see if the senior is having any issues with their living setting and court records. It's seen as a "second set of eyes," Enderby said.
With Election Day shy of just two weeks away, Enderby and Stefaniuk are asking Ashland County to vote for the seniors and children.
"We want to be able to follow through and make sure the seniors are OK," Enderby said. "We want to be able to continue our services."
Reach Grant at gritchey@gannett.com
On Twitter: @Ritchey_Grant