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Montgomery County commissioner urges Oakwood voters to back human services levy
Summary
Montgomery County Commissioner Carolyn Rice briefed the Oakwood City Council on Issue 1, the county's human services levy renewal, urging residents to use early voting and stressing the levy funds services across the county; council members expressed personal support.
Montgomery County Commissioner Carolyn Rice asked Oakwood residents to support Issue 1, a county human services levy renewal, and reminded the council that early voting begins the day after the meeting and the election is Nov. 4. "This year is levy B, and it will also be a renewal. There will be no tax increase," Rice said, adding the levy helps programs "from when a child's first born ... all the way through your life, even to our most seniors."
Rice said the levy supports more than 100,000 county residents and that the roughly $58,000,000 figure she cited leverages additional federal, state and philanthropic funding: "that $58,000,000 really represents far more than $58,000,000 because we use that money to make matches that qualifies us for federal and state and private philanthropy grants."
The commissioner described services funded by the levy as broad, listing mental-health supports, disability services and county-run children services (foster-care functions that she said Ohio counties administer). She also noted past voter support for the levies: Levy A, a renewal, passed in November 2021 with about 74% approval, she said.
Rice asked the council to consider endorsing the renewal and to help spread word of volunteer and sign opportunities at voteforhumanservices.com. "It is so important though, I must tell you. Very, very important," she said, and offered to speak with residents after the meeting.
Council members responded with supportive remarks. Council Member Jackson said Oakwood citizens have shown "overwhelming support for the human services levies in the past," citing local involvement in service delivery. Vice Mayor Byington said the council as a body does not endorse ballot measures but personally endorsed Issue 1 and encouraged residents to vote. Mayor Duncan and other council members thanked Commissioner Rice for attending and noted Oakwood historically records high "yes" rates on the levies.
The meeting record does not show a formal council endorsement vote; Vice Mayor Byington and Council Member Jackson stated personal support during council comments.
