Commissioners approve health dept. levy

SANDUSKY — Erie County's commissioners voted 2-1 Wednesday to put the health department's renewal levy on the November ballot. Wednesday's vote, to obtain necessary paperwork from the county auditor's office, is the first of a two-step process to put the levy before voters. On Friday, commissioners have scheduled a special meeting for a second vote to ask the election board to put the levy on the ballot. Meanwhile, the health department board is hosting a special meeting Thursday night on the situation. Health department commissioner Pete Schade has asked the board to let him hire an attorney, if necessary. As the situation will not be resolved until Friday, at the earliest, Thursday's meeting will go ahead, Schade said. Commissioners Steve Shoffner and Pat Shenigo voted to move forward with the levy, while Matt Old voted "no." Last week, a motion by Shoffner to approve the levy died for lack of a second. The health department responded by calling Thursday's meeting. The proposed 5-mill renewal levy, one of three health department levies, would not raise taxes. The commissioners issued statements explaining their votes and Schade also commented: • Shoffner: I did vote in favor of the resolution today, and I will also vote in favor of (Thursday's) resolution. The commission remains very concerned about the issues surrounding increasing property taxes both locally and on a state level. I had requested more detailed information about the health department's finances, including how grant dollars were used in comparison to day-to-day operating funds that are generated by their three different levies. We discussed their carryover balance and how that amount will be brought down over the next few years as part of their strategic planning process. While I do not pretend to understand exactly what is or is not needed at the health department, I appreciate the thoughtful consideration and discussion the local health board went through to come to their decision to ask for the renewal issue. I was not comfortable in denying voters the chance to decide the issue for themselves in November. I appreciated the robust discussion we had during our meeting today, and I truly believe that the only way we will see true property tax reform or change, is to start doing things on our own local level with all of our local stakeholders involved in an open and honest dialogue. • Old: The law requires all countywide taxing entities to demonstrate an insufficiency of funds available before putting a levy on the ballot. The responsibility of the commissioners is to ensure the entity has demonstrated an insufficiency of funds. You can't convince me you have insufficient funds when you have $6.5 million in the bank today. In light of the property tax crisis facing our community, this responsibility is more serious than ever. In my opinion, the Health Department has not demonstrated they need to renew this tax considering the high carryover balance of more than $6.5 million and substantial state and federal funding. In our meeting (Wednesday) Pete Schade spoke about their plan to strategically spend down this carryover money. His plans totaled around $5 million, which includes a roughly $2 million purchase of a new building. Even if the total $5 million was spent down, they still would be able to provide all of the same services they offer without collecting the entire levy for one year. • Shenigo: While I definitely agreed with many of Matt's points in our discussion (Wednesday) with Pete Schade, however, it was my opinion that at this point the best course of action is let the (Erie County) citizens decide. Blessed be the peacemakers. • Schade: On Wednesday, I spoke to (the county commissioners) about the health department in general and about specifics. I educated them on our need for levy support which in turn helps our entire community save their hard earned money. The levy monies pay for our general daily operations. Without it, which was likely prior to today, the community would be paying exponentially more for health and human services. I would like to thank (the commissioners) for their openness to dialogue and come to today's decision to pass a resolution seeking the auditor certificate and then on Friday they will hold a special session to pass another resolution onto the board of elections to place the levy on the Nov. 4 ballot. I feel the community shall have the right to vote on this levy and am pleased that the needed support from two of the three commissioners was gained. Clearly, the open conversation was a good idea and I, on behalf of our stakeholders, wish to again thank the commission for listening.