Hancock County Committee for the Protection of Children and Families

05/09/2018

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to those who supported us. It was not meant to be. Your support, time, donations and efforts do not go unnoticed. We shall move forward from here.

05/06/2018

Please remember to exercise your right to vote on TUESDAY MAY 8!

05/05/2018

HELP THOSE WHO CAN’T PROVIDE FOR THEMSELVES

My wife and I became foster parents in 2011 and went on to foster and adopt two children along with one more.

My biggest fear is always that even the little time in care at very young ages will have profound impacts on the way they see and process their world.

One of our children was able to visit recently with a biological great-grandmother. Soon after, another of my children started collecting items from the school lost-and-found, claiming them to be from a friend or grandmother.

My child was struggling to fit “bio” and real family together and looking for a touchpoint from the past to help navigate the future. We value our kids’ biological families and maintain ties with two families.

This story shows why ongoing services, that the state doesn’t provide adequate funding for, play critical roles in the lives of foster children even long after adoption or reunification.

Our kids, our community’s kids, often struggle with how to coordinate and put together the puzzle of bio, foster, and adoptive families. One of my kids has never struggled with it. Fortunately, my child has not needed any intensive services yet, but I want the funds available when or if my child or any other child does.

This is why we need to vote “yes” on Issue 7. Children in foster care in Ohio is up 23 percent over 2013.

The 2017 total placement cost for Hancock County children was over $1.7 million. Hancock County places children as far away as Youngstown for lack of area foster parents. Some children have placement costs of up to $450 a day because of health issues. A little more funding here at home can reduce those costs.

Local dollars make up 52 percent of children services expenditures in Ohio. The state funds just 10 percent. Forty-eight Ohio counties already have supplemental levies.

The levy funds are only usable by JFS. One dollar a week makes a lifetime of difference to a child.

Help provide for those who can’t provide for themselves. Vote “yes” on 7.

Brian Davis

05/03/2018

IT’S TIME TO DO MORE

As chairperson of the “Yes on Issue 7 Committee,” I would like to address some of the concerns that have been raised in recent Readers’ Views.

By Ohio law, a human services agency can only seek additional revenue to support, improve, and develop prevention programs through a local levy of property taxes.

Hancock County Job and Family Services does not have the legal option to place a sales tax on the ballot.

Funds received from the levy would go to a specified line item in the county budget, which can only be used by Hancock County Job and Family Services.

The amount homeowners will be assessed is $42 per every $100,000 of taxable valuation, which is 35 percent. To determine the specific amount of taxes, a property owner can access the Hancock County auditor’s website at http://co.hancock.oh.us/government-services/auditor and use the tax estimator.

Currently, adult and child protective services are funded at the bare minimum to function. The state of Ohio is 50th in the nation for funding child protective services. Even if the amount Ohio puts in was doubled, we would still be 50th in the nation.

The vulnerable children and elderly of Hancock County deserve better. The time is now to do more.

Allan H. Davis

Real Estate Manager Job Opportunity SUMMARYUnder direction of the Auditor, the Manager is responsible for the Hancock County Real Estate appraisal program, supervision of personnel; and provides guidance and assistance to the public. The incumbent is expected to exercise good judgement, independe.....

05/02/2018

Please take time to read the following article regarding Issue 7 as submitted by the Hancock County Auditor in today’s Courier.

MARKET VALUE USED FOR LEVY ESTIMATE

The Hancock County auditor’s office has been receiving phone calls asking for clarification on the Job and Family Services levy. I would like to thank those who are calling about information showing up on their doors that is contrary to information that we have shared with The Courier and have posted on the auditor’s website.

A Thursday letter to the editor used calculations for the levy that are confusing.

Apparently, property owners are receiving notes on their doors with information that someone with a $100,000 home would pay a $120 tax for the 1.2-mill JFS levy. This would be true only if the market value is around $285,700, per the auditor’s property records.

The auditor’s office uses, as a general rule of thumb, market value for calculating levy tax information. Most property owners are aware of their market value, the amount they would/could sell their property, rather than the “assessed value” for taxation.

By our calculations, the levy, if approved, would cost the owner of a $100,000 market-valued home $42 more per year.

If using the term “assessed value,” as the letter writer did April 26, one must then convert the assessed value to market value.

The assessed valuation for Ohio taxation is 35 percent of market value. The letter to the editor provided information for a home with an assessed value of $100,000. That same home would have a market value of over $285,000.

According to my statistics, the majority of residential homes in Hancock County do not have a market value of around $285,000, therefore we do not use this basis for information.

The auditor’s REGIS Online (http://co.hancock.oh.us/government-services/auditor/property/property-tax-estimator/), features a calculator available for any taxpayer to calculate any new tax using their own value or any other applicable market value that interests them. To use the tax estimator feature for a parcel, place an amount in the box, calculate, and the estimator will indicate if the property has levies to be voted on in May with the estimated amount.

Charity Rauschenberg

Hancock County auditor

Public information data is furnished by the Hancock County Auditor's Office, and must be accepted and used by the recipient with the understanding that the Hancock County Auditor's Office makes no warranties, expressed or implied, concerning the completeness, or suitability of this data. Furthermo....

04/30/2018

Please remember to vote on May 8!

By EILEEN MCCLORY STAFF WRITER Children being protected by Hancock County Children's Protective Services are being sent to Youngstown, a four-hour drive from Findlay, because that's the closest foster care placement available. "It's taking more and more...

04/21/2018

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all those who volunteered their time and talents at last night’s rally. Hancock County CASA/GAL, Mazza museum, Captain America, Ryan Hensley and special guests Mayor Mihalik, Commissioner Bechtol, Judge Johnson and Judge Davis. Thank you!

04/19/2018

Come see us soon!

04/19/2018

Come on out and see us! Food face painting music fun! Yes on 7!

04/19/2018

Were almost ready! One hour!! Hope to see you soon.

04/17/2018

So who cares if it feels like January in April? Come out on 4/19 and get some free hot dogs, coffee, cookies, popcorn and then warm up with the sounds of Ryan Hensley! ALL FOR FREE!! 😊

04/12/2018

Thank you Hancock County JFS for wearing Blue!