Issue 1 funds services that reach every community

Montgomery County voters will soon make a choice on Issue 1. The choice concerns the Human Services Levy, which funds services that touch citizens in every part of the county.

Issue 1 is a renewal, meaning it will not raise taxes with voter approval. With the renewal, we prevent the loss of roughly $70 million annually, which accounts for more than half our county’s human services funding. Levy renewal also keeps millions more in state and federal funding coming to the county.

The Human Services Levy funds direct services for more than 50,000 residents, including some of our county’s most vulnerable citizens. Frail and elderly citizens receive meal delivery and health care through levy support. Developmentally disabled adults get housing and services through the levy, and it provides for early diagnosis and treatment of severe mental and physical disabilities in children. Levy funds also assist with suicide prevention and mental health services for people of all ages.

Efforts to protect at-risk children from abuse and neglect are largely supported through the levy. Hospital care for those without the means to pay, and availability of healthy food for underserved neighborhoods are also among our levy-funded services. In addition, treatment and prevention for drug abuse and addiction and services to return unemployed individuals to the workforce are all supported through levy dollars.

The pandemic prompted a community effort to increase available beds for our homeless population, allowing for greater social distancing in area shelters. Various agencies work to ensure that homelessness is temporary, providing individuals with short-term housing and resources to help them thrive again. Again, levy dollars support this effort.

Funded services that impact every citizen include immunizations, disaster response, and restaurant and grocery store inspections through Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County. Anyone who would like more information on Issue 1 can find details online at keepmontgomeryhumanservices. com.

Early voting is now available at the Montgomery County Administration Building for those ready with their decisions. Otherwise, Nov. 2 is the last day to make your voice heard at polling places throughout the county.

Torry Brown (left), a self-advocate, co-taught two workshops to Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County staff titled “Improving Service Outcomes for People with Developmental Disabilities.” Here he speaks with Dominique Ayres, Disease Intervention Specialist. Torry is a member of DDS’s Voices Matter Self-Advocacy group, and has presented on disabilityrelated topics on many occasions to groups ranging from law enforcement personnel to students.