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OUR VIEW: Cheapskate voters: There's no good excuse for drawing the line at funding public health

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May 7, 2009

Tuesday's primary election in Portage County was marked by one of the lowest turnouts in recent years. About 10 percent of the eligible voters made it to the polls, most likely because there was only one contested race on the ballot -- in Ravenna's Ward 1 -- as well as a handful of tax issues.

The low turnout may have helped in the passage of income tax issues in Ravenna, where voters approved a measure that will continue the levy benefiting the city's water system, and in Streetsboro, where the recent controversy surrounding ousted Mayor Tom Wagner didn't deter the electorate from doubling the municipal income tax rate.

Voters in Brimfield, Windham, Edinburg and Mantua-Shalersville also approved levies for fire and EMS service and Aurora voters agreed to renew a levy for their city's school system.

In fact, every issue Tuesday's ballot was approved -- except for one: the Portage County Health District levy.

In some respects, that's probably not surprising, given that the measure marked the 31st time that the health district has appealed to voters for additional funds and lost. It's been 55 years since a new funding request was approved.

Still, we're baffled why voters continue to dig in their heels and refuse to approve even the most modest of funding requests for public health. At this point, the only reason we can come up with is that they're cheapskates.

Issue 1 was a 0.4-mill funding request that would have cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $12.60 more in property taxes. That comes to about an additional dollar a month, or three cents a day. It's hard to believe that any homeowner, no matter their financial circumstances, couldn't afford that.

We're doubly baffled that voters would turn their backs on public health on the same day that Portage County confirmed the diagnosis of swine flu in one of its residents. Who do the voters expect will be among the front-line responders if, God forbid, the county ever confronts an outbreak of swine flu or another serious illness?

The electorate Tuesday had no problem approving income tax increases or the funding needed for other, important front-line responders -- fire and EMS units. Why did they draw the line at providing the Portage County Health Department with a modest boost in funding for vital services?

Sorry, Portage County voters but, when it comes to piblic health, you're cheap.




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 3 Total Comments
3.
    Posted by Vydunas May 21, 2009
You'd think that after 31 tries, the county would get the message. There is no such thing as "public health"; there is only the health of individuals. If we give "public health" officials more money, they'll use it to harass honest food tradesman, enforce mandatory vaccination, and generally violate our rights. Yes, what if "we" get swine flu? They seem to have handled the case just fine without more money. We'll go to the doctor, wash our hands, improve our diets. This county is not one big group home; we're intelligent enough to care for ourselves.

That's more than can be said for the Record Courier. I'm all for hard-hitting editorials, but what business in their right mind insults their customers? Is it any wonder the newspaper business is going under? They were doing the same thing in California yesterday. Advocate for statism all you want (we'll take it with a grain of salt), but when the voters have spoken, shut up and have some respect.

2.
    Posted by LillyMayPatterson May 20, 2009
Swine Flu was a hoax. I am glad to keep my $12.00.

1.
    Posted by dp May 7, 2009
And the Record Courier can't proof read, either...

But what are WE (The Record Courier and Portage County residents) going to do about it rather than hurl insults at each other?

I suggest each community - let's say school district area for sake of defining community - start communicating with each other and establish a list (or data base) of Businesses, Individuals, Non-Profits and Governments (it's been proven when these four main groups work together, communities thrive). With a list and heightened awareness, short and long range plans can be devised that will eliminate duplication and provide maximum bang for the taxpayer's bucks.

From there, these eleven communities (school district areas) in Portage County can starting communicating with each other and start collaborating and forming partnerships that will be beneficial AND economical to all Businesses, Individuals, Non-Profits and Governments.

With all of this communication, collaboration and partnership, there is going to be quite a bit of thriving happening in Portage County!

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