MHAS to seek levy

NORWALK — The Huron County Mental Health and Addiction Services, or MHAS, board announced it intends to have a levy on the November ballot that will include "no new taxes" for residents. The Service is looking to reaffirm its "dedication to sustaining essential mental health services, without any new taxes," according to a news release. According to the release, the ballot initiative will include no tax increase, residents will pay the same amount in tax since the levy was approved the first time in 2014, as well as provide nearly $600,000 annually to local service providers. The board is looking to place a renewal on the ballot after last May's election saw voters fail to pass a 10-year, .5-mill replacement and a .6-mill increase levy. The board said it placed that levy on the ballot in an effort to both sustain and expand services, according to a news release from the agency. Following that defeat, MHAS interim Director Mircea Handru told the Reflector the Board had learned from the election and began an internal review to find ways to improve the organization and make positive adjustments. "While MHAS was disappointed by the outcome, the board has taken residents' feedback seriously and has begun carefully reviewing internal operations to identify where adjustments can be made," Handru said. The board claims it has done an internal review of expenditures and will attempt to keep service levels at the same point they are now. "We heard and respect the residents of Huron County," Handru said. "Internally, we are reviewing all fiscal practices to ensure we are being responsible with the funding we currently have. We are committed to doing everything we can to sustain current services without increasing taxes." Renewing the levy preserves current funding levels and ensures ongoing access to mental health services. The funds will be utilized to sustain and fund current services, such as: • Crisis and emergency services • Mobile crisis response team services • Outpatient and inpatient mental health services • Housing services for individuals living with mental illness and individuals in recovery • Mental health and addiction services at the Huron County jail • Mental health and addiction peer support services • Wraparound services for children and families in multiple systems