Children Services levy OK’D for ballot

The Franklin County commissioners gave final approval Tuesday to placing the renewal of a children services levy on the Nov. 5 general election ballot.

The existing tax issue, one of two that provides funding for Franklin County Children Services, is set to expire at the end of the year. Voters will be asked to continue it for another decade.

Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano certified the estimated property tax revenue from the renewal earlier this month: The 3.1-mill issue is expected to generate more than $85.6 million annually. The levy costs property owners about $84.50 per $100,000 in valuation, and that would not change if voters agree to the renewal.

About two-thirds of the children services agency’s annual $212 million budget is funded through the two levies. Voters approved the separate 1.9-mill, 10-year levy for children services in 2014.

Jerry Friedman, speaking on behalf of the Franklin County Human Services Levy Review Commission, said the agency considered a replacement levy but agreed to pursue a renewal this year instead, “in large part because they have adequate reserves, and they also have another levy that will be here in five years, so we don’t have to worry about this 10-year span before we can make a corrective action.”

A replacement probably would have meant a 28% increase for taxpayers, he said.

“We just didn’t think that, in the current environment, having homeowners face that additional increase made any sense,” Friedman said.

Supporters have launched a website urging passage of the levy at committee4children.com.