The Butler County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Services board is located at 5963 Boymel Drive in Fairfield. Bryn Dippold / Staff
The Butler County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services Board levy has passed based on unofficial election results.
One hundred percent of precincts are reporting the levy has passed 61-39.
Executive Director Dr. Scott Rasmus said he was “extremely happy and grateful to the voters.”
“This means that we can continue the MHARS board’s work to help thousands of Butler County residents, including veterans, seniors and children, offering needed, important health, addiction and suicide prevention services,” he said. “Really, I can’t tell you how excited we are.”
The 10-year, 1-mill renewal levy for the MHARS board will cost property owners about $20 annually per $100,000 of assessed value and generate nearly $8.5 million a year, roughly one-third of the board’s funding.
MHARS funds mental health and addiction prevention, treatment and recovery services countywide and pays for inpatient psychiatric care for residents civilly committed through probate court. The agency serves about 49,000 residents annually through partner organizations.
Voters approved a separate half-mill levy in 2024 that replaced an existing levy first approved in 1985. That levy generates about $4.2 million annually. The board receives federal, state and local funding, but 64% of its revenue comes from the two local levies. Total revenue is projected to reach $21 million next year.
The board does not directly provide mental health or addiction services. Instead, it contracts with and funds partner agencies that deliver programs throughout the county. Rasmus said the agency serves about 49,000 clients annually, or roughly 12.2% of Butler County residents.
Financial concerns
The levy appears on the ballot months after MHARS launched independent reviews into accounting discrepancies between two financial systems dating back to at least March 2023. An audit by Clark Schaefer Hackett found a net variance of $170,411.57 and no evidence of fraud, theft or missing funds. MHARS said the discrepancies stemmed from reconciliation issues between the systems.
In response, the board eliminated its in-house finance department in September and contracted with accounting firm Rehmann to oversee financial management.