Dear Committed Marion County Resident,
Our community’s children need your continued support! Marion County Children Services is asking voters to RENEW their commitment to children on November 5. The 5 year, 2.12 mill renewal levy will mean NO NEW TAXES to Marion County residents and will allow one out of every 10 children to continue to benefit from our services each year.
We know that as families experience stress and frustration during challenging times, child abuse increases. Marion County Children Services responded to 686 reports of child abuse or neglect in 2012 alone.
A child’s safety, stability and basic needs are often times left unmet while parents struggle to meet their own needs. Last year, we provided services to 120 children who were unable to remain in the care of their parents. Working closely with these families, we located safe placements with family or friends for 48 children while 72 children were provided services through our foster care program. Parental drug abuse is the leading cause for children to be removed from their homes in Marion County. As parents struggle with substance abuse, the children suffer.
As a result of strong financial stewardship, voters approved a renewal with a reduction in 2009, reducing the original 1989 millage rate from 2.5 to 2.12. Our November 5 levy request is based off of the reduced 2.12 millage rate. Passage of the renewal levy will continue to cost the owner of a $100,000 home $32.38 per year – that’s less than $.09 a day!
Marion County Children Services has operated for over two decades without an increase in local levy dollars or assistance from the county’s general revenue fund. If the levy is allowed to expire, Marion County will no longer receive over $870,000 in state funding due to recent changes in tax policy.
The passage of the renewal levy will enable our agency to continue to provide quality services to children and their families. We will continue to:
- respond to reports of child abuse and neglect, 24 hours a day / 365 days a year.
- work jointly with families to improve situations that place children at risk.
- find safe placements for children if their parents are unable to provide basic care.
- provide “forever families” through adoption for children who are unable to return to the care of their birth family.
Please join me in supporting our community’s children. Vote FOR Marion County Children Services on November 5.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline Ringer, Executive Director
Marion County Children Services
About Guest Columnist
