The Health Department will have a levy renewal on the ballot on November 5. It is a renewal, not a new tax.
The renewal based upon the 2003 collection valuation that will not increase current taxes. The levy is a 0.5 mil, 10-year renewal of the 2003 replacement for the original 1994 levy, which contributes to funding the department’s more than 60 public health services.
This 0.5 mil, 10-year renewal levy will cost a property owner $17.50/$100,000.00 valuation/year. If this renewal levy is not successful, the Board of Health will likely find it necessary to make decisions to reduce services or staff.
Public health services are provided to all citizens of Richland County. “We have about 60 services that are offered through the health department. This really is the medical home for many people. This levy will not impose new taxes,” said Selby Dorgan, manager of Health Promotion and Education with the Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department.
In 2012, 115,000 citizens of Richland County received services from the Health Department. This study was based upon the 2010 Richland County census, with the exception of the population within the city of Shelby. The city of Shelby has its own health department.
Some of levy funded services that are provided by the Health Department include flu and pneumonia shots, home visits for infants and children, community and senior health screenings that will offer free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, communicable disease investigation such as meningitis, hepatitis, and Pertussis (whooping cough), emergency preparedness and response, and free car seat safety checks.
The Health Department mission is to assess, maintain, and improve the health and safety of the environment and the community through quality public health services. The Health Department vision is to have the healthiest community possible where residents and enjoy optimal physical, emotional, and environmental health. Safety, prevention, protection, promotion and education lead to a better quality of life for everyone in Richland County. This lowers the cost of health care for everyone.
The Mansfield/Ontario/Richland County Health Department is located at 555 Lexington Avenue in Mansfield and is open Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; some clinics and educational opportunities are available in the evenings and during weekends. For more information, call 419-774-4500.
