Richland County commissioners approve placing 1-mill mental health levy renewal on November ballot

The Richland County Board of Commissioners voted June 3 to approve a resolution of necessity asking voters to renew a one-mill property tax levy for the Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, placing the measure on the November ballot.

The levy renewal would be a property-tax renewal at a rate the board described as equivalent to 10 cents per $100 of assessed value and has generated about $2.2 million annually in recent years. Board officials and county commissioners framed the request as continuing an existing funding stream that supports a local network of treatment providers, supported housing and crisis services.

Director Sherry Brown of the Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board said the agency “is an efficient and an effective organization” and noted that a staff of seven administers the countywide continuum of mental-health and addiction services. Carrie's voice: Associate Director and CFO Carrie Vo told commissioners the board follows formal reserve policies for finances: “The administrative reserve is equal to one year of that budget line under the board expenditures. The program reserve is 34% of the…