Cuyahoga County Human Services Levy Defeat Would Be 'Devastating'

Rising dissatisfaction with Cuyahoga County government could threaten the renewal of the county's human services levy, which will appear on the May 4 ballot.

The levy would raise $86 million and would cost $87 per year for the owner of a $100,000 home.

However, voters have watched over the past two years as an ongoing federal corruption investigation of the county government has resulted in more than two dozen indictments.

Voters already took action to reform the county government last fall by dumping the three-commission system of government in favor of a system with one county executive and an 11-member council.

If the levy passes, the new government would collect the funds next year.

One agency that relies on funding from the levy is the Center for Families and Children, which offers behavioral health and early learning services, usually to inner-city residents at or below the poverty level.

David Reines, the center's vice president for resource development and external affairs, said the levy is vital not only for the $86 million it would produce, but also because the money would result in matching funds from the federal and state governments.

"If the levy fails, the impact would be pretty devastating," Reines said. "The level of need has increased so dramatically with the recession and the rise in unemployment."

This issue is the smaller of two human services levies in Cuyahoga County. Voters renewed the larger one in 2008.

"Since then, we've received an increased demand for our services. People who never needed food stamps or were never homeless now find that they need our assistance," Reines said.

Despite the controversy surrounding the county government, Reines said he is confident that voters will recognize the need to approve the levy.

"I think the voters can separate themselves," he said. "Even though several county officials have been indicted, there are more than 7,000 who are working hard every day. This is a charitable community."

MetroHealth Medical Center also receives $40 million from the levy, plus additional state and federal matching funds. The money helps to cover uninsured and underinsured patients.

Jim Corlett, the hospital's vice president of government relations and community affairs, said the levy is important because citizens never know when they will need MetroHealth's services.

"We are the safety net hospital of Greater Cleveland," he said. "We run 2,500 Life Flight helicopter missions every year, and our doctors and nurses treat 4,500 trauma patients per year. We also have an outpatient burn unit that is open 24/7.

"None of us know when we will need our resources," Corlett added. "Almost every Cuyahoga County resident uses our services or knows someone who does."

Corlett said that if the levy fails, the hospital will have to make cutbacks in several areas, since the levy money is not earmarked for a specific purpose.

"I'm optimistic," he said. "I think the voters will support the levy and approve it."