John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - A 10-year renewal of the 0.5-mill Butler County Mental Health Services levy was officially put on the Nov. 2 ballot Thursday by county commissioners.

Voters rejected a new five-year, 0.5-mill levy in March that would have generated $3.5 million a year.

Because of state and federal funding cuts, the county serves about 10,000 Medicaid-eligible people. Services have been eliminated to an additional 6,000 people not eligible for Medicaid, said John Staup, county mental health board director.

"This is absolutely vital to maintain existing services for the severely mentally ill in our community," Staup said.

If voters approve the tax - originally passed in 1985 and renewed in 1994 - the owner of a $100,000 home would continue to pay $7.47 per year, or about two cents a day.

"It's heartbreaking that's all the county residents are investing in mental health services," said Commissioner Michael A. Fox. "Most people, if they ... saw three pennies on the ground, wouldn't bend over and pick them up."

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com