2020 Lucas County Children Services Levy Facts • Seeking renewal of existing five-year, 1.8 mill operating levy. • This is not a new tax. • Current levy expires in December 2021; renewed levy would be collected starting in January 2022, only after the current levy expires. • We are coming to voters because: • LCCS and other Ohio child protection agencies face a number of changes in the next year that call for fiscal stability. • Waiting until 2021 to seek renewal would put the safety of children at risk, as the agency could be forced to reduce its operations if the measure is defeated. • The turnout for the 2020 election is expected to be very high, and we want to give the most voters possible the opportunity to voice their support for children. • This levy generates $13.4 million, or more than a quarter of the agency’s current operating funds. • This levy costs the owner of a $100,000 home $55.13 annually, or $1.06 per week. • We do have a second levy, at 1.85 mills for ten years, that voters approved in 2018. That levy passed in every precinct in Lucas County, demonstrating the importance of child protection to Lucas County voters. • Primary agency challenges: • Family First Preventive Services Act – moves focus and funding from supporting foster care to abuse prevention and family stabilization. • FFPA incorporates mandates that service providers meet standards that they, in the short term, will be unlikely to be able to meet. Much-needed group homes are most affected. • Federal lawsuit (D.O. vs. Glisson) and related state legislative proposals (HB 640) call on child protection agencies to compensate kin the same as foster parents; could cost LCCS an additional $2 to $3.5 million annually.
Paid for by Committee for Children, Suzette Cowell, Treasurer. P.O. Box 2202, Toledo, OH 43604 lucas4kids.com • 419-392-9597 • lccscommitteeforchildren@gmail.com
2020 Lucas County Children Services Levy Facts — cont’d • Other challenges: • Continuing opiate epidemic. • Domestic violence. • Increased depth and complexity of family issues. • Cost of caring for, and availability of, services to multi-system youth. • Hiring qualified caseworkers, and retiring senior staff. • Need for foster homes. • COVID-19 response – impact on agency operations, staff safety, families on caseload. • We are responding to these challenges by implementing: • Five-year agency strategic plan. • Standing up new, specialized units and functions – 30 Days to Family, Family Search & Engagement, Ohio START, Permanency Support, Parent Empowerment Institute, Recruitment. • Increasing training. • Partnering with State of Ohio IT to use technology to go mobile, virtual. • Working closely with federal, state and local governments to ensure interests of children and child protection are represented, as well as helping to develop new practice guidelines. • Reducing placement costs – fewer network placements, more children in kinship care. • Reducing other operating costs. • Embracing collaborations with a variety of local service providers and institutions to provide more services to families and extend agency’s resources. • Engaging community partners • Conclusion • LCCS has demonstrated fiscal responsibility. • The agency is recognized statewide and nationally as a leader in child protection. • At a time when there are so many changes and unknowns in child protection, we must be ready to respond to any challenge. • Renewing this levy is critical for the children of Lucas County.
Paid for by Committee for Children, Suzette Cowell, Treasurer. P.O. Box 2202, Toledo, OH 43604 lucas4kids.com • 419-392-9597 • lccscommitteeforchildren@gmail.com