Letter to the Editor
To the Editor:Mental Health Matters is the main theme for the 2009 election, Nov. 3. Wayne County Issue #5 and Holmes County Issue #7 will provide sufficient funds to maintain client treatment and education due to both the federal and state cuts. In the past two years, nearly $2,000,000 has been cut from the local mental health and recovery budget. Child education, client recovery programs, and staff have been reduced while additional clients are on the rolls. Plans are in place to restore effective programs with passage but forecasts are of more cuts to come.
Voters of Wayne and Holmes counties must decide the priorities with this issue!
All agencies are nonprofit with volunteer boards and their only product is treatment for mental health and addiction problems or both. With a forecast of additional cuts of $500,000 in 2010 and 2011, this levy is estimated to carry the programs through 2015.
Please go to the polls and cast your vote, as how you vote will guide the Mental Health and Recovery Board (MH&RB) of Wayne & Holmes Counties. Thank you for your vote!
Chuck Dougherty, Wooster
Treasurer of MH&RB Wayne/Holmes Counties