Butler County Commissioners consider mental health levy, approve ARPA funding for Milford Township

A Butler County board is looking to place a levy on the ballot this November to improve access to mental health and addiction resources.

At a Butler County Commissioners meeting Monday, June 10, members from the Butler County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services Board (BCMHARSB) presented a 0.5-mill proposed levy. Dr. Scott Rasmus, the executive director of BCMHARSB, and Mat Himm, the board president, said the funds would go toward battling mental health issues and addiction in Butler County.

Rasmus said the board has 13 to 14 months left of reserved funds before they're in deficit spending. To avoid cutting any more programs like the mental health unit in Hamilton or syringe exchange and harm reduction in Middletown, the pair proposed a levy that would cover the board for five years based on their financial forecasts.

"To emphasize, we don't want to cut programming when mental illness and crisis is on the rise, especially after COVID," Rasmus said.

He also touched on the rising amount of suicide deaths in Butler County over the past two and a half years, as well as overdoses. In the past 20 years, Rasmus said an average of 42 Butler County residents have died by suicide. In 2023, that number was 57, and in 2022 it was 64.

"We're looking at addressing [suicides] and expanding funding to address aspects of that and not only intervention, but prevention," Rasmus said.

With the money, BCMHARSB plans to expand their crisis and referral services for residents seeking help through both local county crisis hotline, 844-4CRISIS, and the national 988 crisis hotline. They also plan to better target youth and adults to educate the community and promote mental wellness.

Rasmus and BCMHARSB are asking to replace the old 0.5-mill mental health levy established in 1985 for a new one in 2024. They say inflation has significantly reduced the power of the levy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' CPI Inflation Calculator, a flat levy passed in 1984 holds less than a third of the value today.

The Butler County Commissioners did not vote on the proposal at the meeting.

Following the presentation, Administrator Judi Boyko presented several resolutions to the commissioners related to funding. Two of the resolutions, both passed by the commissioners, allocate American Rescue Plan Act funding the city of Fairfield and Milford Township.

At the end of last year, approximately $8 million was allocated toward the local communities and cities.

According to the meeting agenda, Milford Township will use its $150,000 to serve their disparate populations by replacing a fence at Edot Park in Darrtown, constructing a shelter at Somerville Park and donating remaining funds to the Talawanda Oxford pantry and Social Services Center, effective June 11.

The next weekly meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. June 16 in the Butler County Government Services building, 315 High St.