All the local issues providing financial support for various county services passed yesterday by varying margins.
Issue 6, a renewal of the Athens County EMS 3-mill levy, passed 8,549 to 4,926. Property owners will continue to pay 3 mills to support EMS services.
Issue 7, which asked voters to renew the .3-mill levy supporting the Tuberculosis Clinic for the next five years, passed 6,949 votes to 6,343 votes.
According to a County Advisory Bulletin, taxpayer funding for tuberculosis care began in the 1880s, when TB became a major health concern. As a result, every county in Ohio is required by law to provide for a tuberculosis control unit. Athens County satisfies this mandate with its TB clinic.
Issue 8 passed 6,931 to 6,456 to provide Athens County Children Services with a 3-mill levy for 10 years. This levy is an increase of only 1.5 mills from the 1997 levy, and will bring in an additional $1.3 million for the organization. It is the first time Children Services has had an increase in 18 years.
Since 1997, the number of children in the care of Children Services increased from 50 children to 121. According to Andy Ellinger, the public information officer for the Athens County Children Services, costs for the organization have more than quadrupled, in addition to the increase in children.
Issue 9 passed by a landside yesterday, 8,317 to 5,162. It is a replacement levy that will raise 2.85 mills for Beacon School and the ATCO workshop. The money from the Issue 9 levy will help both organizations maintain their current programs.
Jody Harris, the Beacon School Superintendent, said the money generated from this levy was needed because of a loss of a lot of state and federal funding over the past three years.
We're all relieved that (Issue 9) passed
Harris said. We really appreciate the community. We're all very appreciative of the support here.
-Catie Coleman and Chris Yonker contributed to this article. 17
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