Union County voters supported their health department’s replacement levy in Tuesday’s election.
The Union County Health Department sought to replace a 0.5 mill levy originally approved in 2001, which was collecting at a rate of 0.31 mills. Approval of the replacement will reset the effective rate to 0.5 mills.
According to unofficial results from the Union County Board of Elections, 60.77% of voters, or 6,381 people, cast their ballot in favor of the levy.
“We are feeling thankful this morning,” said UCHD Public Information Officer Jennifer Thrush. “We are proud to serve our communities and appreciate the support of our residents.”
The cost to homeowners will be $17.50 per $100,000 in property value per year.
Union County Public Information Officer Jennifer Thrush has previously emphasized that the levy funds the health department’s current services and operations.
“This goes toward all the things we’ve done long before COVID,” she said.
Thrush said the levy will fund many of the health department’s services that aim to improve the overall quality of life in Union County.
Thrush said UCHD provides a number of services that assist county residents from the beginning of life until their senior years.
The health department offers breastfeeding support for expecting mothers, conducts home visits and gives safe sleep advice for parents of newborns and provides car seats for babies and children.
She said the health department also partners with many local agencies to promote health throughout the community.
Thrush noted partnerships with local law enforcement agencies and first responders, including hosting safety town programs to educate children and a “community paramedicine” program that distributes Narcan to prevent fatal overdoses.
She also listed “infrastructure projects” like trail and park development throughout the county, along with farmers markets.
Thrush emphasized that “those are the things this levy will fund.”
UCHD is primarily funded through two local levies – a 0.9 mill and 0.5 mill levy, according to information from the health department.
The health department is an independent political subdivision and does not receive funds from the county budget. Less than 0.5% of its funding comes from the state budget.
Aside from levies, the other main funding stream comes from state and federal grants that Thrush said UCHD employees “aggressively pursue.” She said these allow the health department to expand programs without increasing the cost to local taxpayers.
However, she said the local levies are crucial to creating financial stability and enabling employees to seek additional grants.
Throughout the county, the following issues were voted on:
– Voters throughout the county passed a five-year, 1 mill renewal of the Union County 911 levy. According to unofficial results from the Union County Board of Elections, 74.44% of voters, or 8,528 people, casted their ballots for the levy compared to 2,928 against.
– City of Marysville residents approved four charter amendments.
– Darby Township voters approved a five-year, 3 mills renewal levy to support operations of the fire department. Approximately 76.69% of voters, or 125 people, were in favor of the tax levy while 38 voted against it.
– Voters in Millcreek Township passed a five-year, 2.15 mills replacement levy to support police operations. Approximately 74.70%, or 186 people, voted for the tax levy while 63 voted against.
– Voters approved a continuing, 8 mills levy to support operations of the Northwestern Joint Fire District. Just over 60% of voters, or 604 residents, supported the levy compared to 401 who cast their ballots against it.
– Those in the district of the Southeast Hardin/Northwest Union Joint Fire District approved a five-year, 5 mills levy to support its operations. Approximately 55.26%, or 84 people, cast ballots in favor of the tax levy while 68 voted against it.
– Union Township voters approved a five-year, 1 mill renewal to cover current expenses. Nearly 69% of voters were in favor of the tax levy, or 201 people, compared to 91 who were against it.
– Voters in York Township approved a five-year 1 mill tax levy. Approximately 58.62% of voters, or 119 people, were for the tax levy while 84 were opposed to it.