By MELANIE YINGST and JOYELL NEVINS

OCM News Service

MIAMI COUNTY -  The Miami County Health District’s 10-year, 0.4-mill replacement levy passed with 3,524 votes for the levy and 3,065 votes against the levy, which by percentages is 46.52% against, and 53.48% for.

“I'm very excited about the passage of the levy and incredibly grateful to the voters,” said  Miami County Health District Health Commissioner Chris Cook, “It was an excellent choice by the citizens to keep Miami County a healthy, safe place to live.”

In previous statements, Cook said the health district’s replacement levy was needed to keep up with inflation and to increase the district’s ability to provide needed services and equipment.

According to Cook, the health district provides 60 different public health services, including: restaurant inspections, clinics, and housing and nuisance clean up, to all residents of Miami County who live outside the city of Piqua, which operates its own health department.

Cook said the levy represents 25 percent of the district’s annual budget, and is an important budgetary “cornerstone,” because it provides matching revenue the district can use to secure additional funding through state and local grants.

And, he added, levy funding and grant money is more vital than ever now in the face of cutbacks in direct state aid to the district. 

Cook explained the levy passage will help “stabilize” local funding in a time when state and federal funding are up in the air.

The levy will cost the owner of a $100,000 house about $12.25, an increase of $2.25 annually over the current cost of about $10 a year.

The next step, Cook said, will be getting the results of the Community Health Assessment.

“The results will help us determine the best way to route our resources to the needs in the county over the next ten years,” he said.

By MELANIE YINGST and JOYELL NEVINS

OCM News Service

TIPP CITY - Residents of Tipp City voted for the 10 year, 0.25 percent income tax for capital improvements and for the continuation of the current 0.25 percent parks capital improvement plan for another 10 years, according to unofficial Miami County Board of Election results from Tuesday’s election.

The 10-year, 0.25-percent income tax will raise an additional $13 million dollars for safety and street projects for the city, according to the city’s official website. The unofficial results showed that there were 841 votes for the income tax and 671 votes against the income tax, or 55.62% for and 44.38% against.

“First and foremost, I would like to thank the residents of Tipp City for understanding the financial needs of the City and the investment necessary to maintain Tipp City's streets, safety equipment, and quality of life,” said City Manager Jon Crusey.

He also recognized the “hard work and dedication” of the members of the Citizens Capital Improvement Plan Committee and income tax levy committee, Citizens for a Strong Tipp City (CSTC).  This levy has gone to the voters three times, and finally passing is the result of a long journey and battle against perceived misconceptions and economic struggles.

“I was confident in the passage of the levy simply because I felt if a large enough audience were able to read, talk about and converse the merits of the tax, that it would most certainly pass on its own weight,” said CSTC Co-chair Mike McDermott.

Some of the projects that will be paid for by the tax increase are a new aerial ladder truck and renovation of the fire/EMS department; reconstruction and resurfacing of parts of Franklin, Dow, and South Third streets; and replacement of the Maple Hill bridge.

McDermott added, “The need for capital improvement funding has been there for years; it just took some well-planned and delivered communications to achieve today's outcome.  Residents will see the fruits of their labor reflected in the proper maintenance of our capital assets.”

The 0.25 percent increase will be effective July 1.

The current 0.25 percent parks CIP levy for capital improvement for a 10 year period is effective Jan. 1, 2013, according to the city’s official website.