The Union County Health Department (UCHD) spoke to the Marysville City Council Monday about its upcoming levy.
Union County Health Commissioner Jason Orcena spoke to council about his agency’s levy issue on this November’s ballot. The department is looking at both a .75 mill renewal and a .15 mill increase.
Orcena said had the department done a replacement, it would cost homeowners $26.25 per $100,000. The renewal and increase would be $23.51.
“It doesn’t sound like a lot, but a couple dollars is a couple dollars,” Orcena said. “I don’t know about you, but I like McDonald’s’ coffee a lot, and so I drink it every morning. It’s a buck. So a couple dollars more in my pocket is a couple dollars more in my pocket.”
Officials noted that the renewal and increase will be a single item for voters to vote for or against.
At the May UCHD board meeting, Union County Auditor Andrea Weaver was quoted as saying she’s worked with other townships on similar levy situations. At the time, she said taxpayers would see a rollback with the renewal and increase.
“If you want to continue to benefit your taxpayers by letting them have that rollback scenario, then you’ll do a renewal because there’s no new money involved,” Weaver said. “They’ll continue to see that 10 and two-and-a-half percent rollback experience on the renewal portion of what you’re trying to do.”
Council member Tracy Richardson said, the UCHD needs to make sure people understand that the renewal is saving residents money relative to other options.
“I think that’s a message that’s better,” Richardson said.
Orcena joked that simply asking for a replacement would be much easier on his end.
“Even though it’s better for the homeowner, it’s a much harder message to get across,” Orcena said.
Orcena said most people don’t realize that the UCHD is three different organizations and services brought together under the UCHD umbrella. He said while most people think of the department as a clinical services provider, there’s also a health promotion planning program and health inspections.
“So we’re very, very active,” Orcena said.
That work, he said, is dependent on the department’s funding stream. The levy, he said, is a big part of that.
“Everything we do is funded by the levy at some level,” Orcena said.
In other council news:
-Council confirmed that Marysville’s trick or treat time will be Oct. 31, 6-8 p.m.
-The city’s last Friday Nights Uptown event will be Oct. 5, 6-10 p.m. at Partners Park. Music will be provided by Martini Affair.
-Public Service Director Mike Andrako said the Partners Park splash pad will continue operations through next week. Residents will be able to enjoy the pad during nice days until then.
“Otherwise it’s just a fountain in the park,” he joked.
– Andrako also said brush collection will wrap up at the end of next week, with leaf pickup starting after that.