**PAID PODCAST**
MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—As Marion County voters head to the polls Tuesday, the Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board is reminding residents that its 1-mill ballot issue is a renewal levy that will not increase existing tax rates.
Speaking on the “Community Spotlight” program with host Randy Bigley, Executive Director Brad DeCamp explained that the levy has remained unchanged for 20 years and is still calculated on 2006 property values. Because the board does not receive unvoted “inside millage” when property valuations rise, any funding increase must be approved by voters.
For the owner of a $100,000 home, the levy costs $15.27 per year, or about $1.27 per month.
DeCamp noted that levy funds provide essential crisis intervention, mental health care, and substance use disorder services across Marion County. Those resources directly assist local law enforcement, fire departments, and EMS crews by connecting individuals with treatment before they reach a crisis point. In addition to adult treatment and local counseling services, the levy funds school-based prevention initiatives, including the Teen Institute (TI) and Junior Teen Institute (JTI) programs.