Ashland County Referendum To Increase Property Tax To Fund Services Fails

A majority of Ashland County residents voted down a referendum asking them to pay more to fund services in Tuesday’s primary.

Roughly 64 percent of county residents opposed a request to increase the tax levy in unofficial election results.

The county asked voters if they would support raising the property tax levy by roughly $1 million to pay for services. Ashland County has contended with rising costs to its Health and Human Services Department, as well as the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office.

Ashland County administrator Jeff Beirl said previously that increasing costs are related to drug abuse, particularly meth.

The number of felonies related to drug abuse in Ashland County has more than doubled in recent years from 122 in 2011 to 303 last year.

The cost to the county for placing children in out-of-home care rose from $405,420 in 2016 to $720,909 last year.

In addition, the county has also seen public safety spending increase by about $750,000 in the last three years.