Newsmakers: October 4, 2009

Part One

We begin by focusing on Issue Four, the family services and treatment levy. Issue Four is designed to fund programs that provide alternatives to incarceration, reduce recidivism and preserve limited jail space for the most serious offenders.
 
Although technically a new levy, most of these programs were funded in the past under the old Drake Hospital levy. When that levy was on the ballot, all the debate was about the most efficient way to operate that hospital, the other programs got only passing mention.
 
Now that Drake no longer seeks local tax support, the other programs are the center of the discussion. One of the challenges around Issue Four is that it will fund a basket of services, each relatively small, not just one big program. These include residential and out patient drug rehabilitation at 1617 Reading Road, and the alcohol and drug addiction partnership in treatment program, "adapt" for men, a residential and out patient program for offenders referred through Hamilton County courts. Turning Point is a rehab program for multiple DUI offenders.
 
The levy will also support the coalition for a drug free community, the nationally acclaimed off the streets program that helps women escape prostitution, and the Substance Abuse Mental Health Court, or "SAMI."

The levy will raise $37.2 million over five years. At 34 mills, that means that for every $100,000 of property value, the owner will pay $10.06 per year. Although this is technically a new levy, it replaces a levy that cost the owner of a $100,000 home, $20.73 per year, a more that 50 percent reduction in the current tax rate.
 
To discuss Issue 4, I am joined this morning by Neil Tilow, the President and CEO of Talbert House, which is a community wide nonprofit network of social services responsible for managing a number of the programs funded by Issue 4, and Laura Baker, a counselor at Talbert House who works closely with the drug court.

Part Two

The Hamilton County Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, MRDD will change its name after the November election to the Hamilton County Disabilities Services, bringing it in line with the change of the state agency. The agency, often through contracts with private 501C3 partners, provides services from infancy through adulthood for people who have a variety of developmental challenges.

I am joined now by Cheryl Phipps, the superintendent of the Hamilton County Department of Mental Retardation and Developmental Services. And sister Marianne Van Vurst, a sister of charity, who is the executive director of the Saint Joseph home of Cincinnati.