Butler County mental-health levy funds to expand services; officials flag syringe-exchange gap

Butler County public-health officials told county commissioners on May 14 that revenue from a voter-approved levy will expand local mental-health and addiction services but will not be collected and paid out until next year.

Scott Rasmus, executive director of the Butler County Mental Health Addiction Recovery Services Board, said the board expects the levy to allow it to target about 42,500 county residents and to operate on an annual budget of roughly $18 million. "We will probably target 42,500 Butler County residents," Rasmus said. "Our actual budget's around $18,000,000 spent."

Why it matters: Commissioners were briefed on how levy funds will be used to address rising suicide and overdose deaths, extend services for five priority populations (people at risk of suicide, people at risk of overdose, veterans, youth and families, and senior citizens) and to shore up prevention, crisis response and treatment capacity across the county.

Key points from the presentation - Suicide and overdose trends: Rasmus said county suicide deaths have run at about 57 and are projected at 62 this year; overdose deaths fell to about 80 last year…