By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - Butler County voters who rejected a new mental health tax likely will see tax levy renewals for both mental health and mental retardation services on the November ballot.

"I don't know what alternative this is," said Chuck Furmon, Butler County commission president. "If the agencies come to us and want to be put on the (November) ballot, it's awfully hard for us to say no. Then it's up to them to make their case to the voters."

Funding from a half-mill, 10-year Butler County Mental Health Board levy runs out in December 2005. Revenues from two half-mill, 10-year levies for the Butler County Board of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities expire in December.

"We've talked to the people at MRDD, and they understand that we have little choice but to come back with another levy in November '04," said John Staup, county mental health board director.

On Tuesday, 55.8 percent of voters opposed the new five-year tax, which would have generated $3.5 million a year. Staup says he will recommend to his board on March 17 that it seek a renewal in November of the expiring levy originally passed by voters in 1985, and renewed in 1994. It generates about $2 million, because the tax is based on 1985 property values, he said.

"I don't want to chance it. We can't lose what we have," Staup said. Voters have rejected seven new mental health tax requests since 1988.

If the mental health board waits until next year for a levy renewal, the board would have to cut $1 million in residential care and housing subsidies. That could sharply increase the number of homeless or institutionalized people, Staup said.

"We'd be cutting out basic levels of support for the people who are the most vulnerable in the community," Staup said.

The Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities board will determine its tax levy need in spring, after learning if federal and state Medicaid funds will be cut again, said Jim Mueller, board superintendent.

"We're trying to find out if the community will support any more than 1 mill, perhaps a 1.2-mill levy," Mueller said. "No matter what, we'll be on the ballot. We have 1 mill that expires."

But placing a tax issue on the ballot by no means guarantees success, as schools and mental health officials learned Tuesday.

"Everyone is opposed to taxes right now," Furmon said. "It's a very difficult situation."

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com