OPINION

Editorial: Support libraries, kids and seniors

Advocate Editorial Board

There are some decisions in life that come very easily. You know it’s the right thing to do even if tax collectors will seek a few additional dollars from your pocket.

That’s certainly the case with three countywide levies appearing on the Nov. 4 ballot designed to keep our kids safe, help seniors cope with challenges and continue the success of our local libraries.

You will be asked to approve:

• A 1-mill, 10-year replacement levy for the Licking County Children Services to help fund care of abused or neglected children, including foster homes and necessary treatments. As a replacement of the existing tax, it would increase taxes by $6.59 per $100,000 of property value, the first increase in the cost of this tax in 30 years. Unfortunately the need for services here is growing much like the population of our county, making the current levy insufficient. Just last year, there were 508 children in foster care or treatments and 1,937 reports of abuse.

• A 1-mill permanent levy for the Licking County Library, which includes the downtown and Emerson Miller locations in Newark plus libraries in Hebron, Buckeye Lake, Utica and Johnstown. (Granville and Pataskala are not included nor part of the vote.) This issue would replace the library’s first levy approved in 2010, which now provides 48 percent of the library’s revenue following state budget cuts going years back. The difference is this levy would not expire, nor would it increase your cost. Beyond the critical operating needs these funds cover, the system has been able to maintain and update the main library while renovating the Miller location. Sunday hours were restored and purchases of library materials doubled to ensure patrons can find what they need. More importantly, it avoided a disastrous shortfall.

• A 1.2-mill, five-year renewal of the Licking County senior levy, which helps fund an array of services across the county, including the Licking County Aging Program and its new Heritage Hall facility for seniors. As a renewal, your taxes would not increase. In 2013, a levy advisory board helped split $4.5 million in levy funds with 22 agencies, with the most going to LCAP for its comprehensive services, including transportation to medical appointments, meals, home assistance and social and health services.

Clearly these are three of the most important organizations in any community. Thanks to strong voter support over many years, all three are functioning well and serving our residents with much needed services.

We strongly urge you to support all three.