The League of Women Voters of Northern Portage County and the League of Women Voters of Kent endorse and encourage Portage County voters to approve the three countywide issues on the Nov. 7 General Election ballot. The levy requests will further strengthen local services that benefit the health and well-being of county residents.
The countywide levies are: Issue 29, a 10-year, 2.9-mill renewal tax levy for the Portage County Board of Developmental Disabilities; Issue 30, a 10-year, 1-mill replacement tax levy for the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Portage County; and Issue 31, a 10-year, 1-mill tax levy, comprised of a ½ mill replacement and ½ mill additional property tax for the Portage Park District.
Leagues have positions on issues affecting their communities based on research, study and discussion with local agencies and policymakers. Kent and Northern Portage endorsed the DD and MHRB levies based on positions supporting health care, education, early intervention for at-risk children and equality and equity of services. The county boards receiving funding from the issues operate with tax levy dollars, grants and other outside funding, which the Leagues support.
Both Leagues recently updated a position on the development and sustainability of local parks that emphasizes physical and economic access for all. The position also supports seeking grants and other outside funding. The park organization can show definitive results for: acquiring additional outside funds to supplement local tax dollars, increasing accessible trails and facilities and providing free programming for all ages. The Leagues also favor the environmentally sound operation demonstrated by the park district that preserves the county’s natural heritage of plants and wildlife and benefits human health.
Join the more than 200 members of the Leagues of Women Voters of Northern Portage County and Kent in voting “yes” on countywide Issues 29, 30 and 31 on Nov. 7. To learn more about the levies, you can go to vote411.org or access the downloadable LWV Voters Guide for Portage County at https://my.lwv.org/ohio/kent/vote411voters-guide. Printed Voters Guides will be available at locations around the county. You can find that list here: https://my.lwv.org/ohio/kent/where-find-nov-7-2023-voters-guide.
April Secura, President, League of Women Voters of Northern Portage CountySherry Rose, League of Women Voters of Kent
