On Tuesday, July 14, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution placing a 5-year, 2.2 mill renewal levy with a .65 mill increase for the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County (ADAMH) on the November 3 ballot.
More than 71% of the ADAMH system’s resources come from the current 2.2 mill property tax levy that expires in December 2021. ADAMH has maintained the same millage for almost 30 years while serving an increasing number of individuals. In 2019, ADAMH served more than 135,000 people which is a 72% increase from 2014.
The current levy costs a homeowner $4.99 per month per $100,000 of home property value. If the ADAMH ballot issue passes, taxpayers will pay an additional $1.90 per month per $100,000 in home property value to begin collection in 2022.
“We are grateful for the support ADAMH has received from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners and the Human Services Levy Review Committee during this process. We appreciate the thoughtful questions and recommendations that illustrate our need for an increase in the level of behavioral health and crisis care service across the county,” said ADAMH CEO Erika Clark Jones.
More than 85% of the additional millage requested (0.65) will be used to maintain existing behavioral healthcare services for Franklin County residents. ADAMH will use the remaining additional funds to address continuing population growth and address the emerging needs of the community like expanded crisis services, school-based prevention services, suicide prevention programs and housing.