MOUNT VERNON – Knox County Children Services passed a replacement levy on Tuesday’s general election ballot that will provide the agency with essential funding over the next 10 years, in an effort to keep up with the consequences of the drug epidemic.

READ: 2018 Knox County Midterm Election: Final Results

According to unofficial election night numbers provided by the Knox County Board of Elections (with all 52 precincts reporting), 60.73 percent (or 13,293 voters) voted to pass the tax levy, while 39.27 percent (or 8,595 voters) voted against it.

Children Services Director Matthew Kurtz said on Tuesday night that he was “overwhelmed” by the community’s support at the polls.

“I’m very happy with the results. Somewhat overwhelmed with the support because it was 60 percent, but not surprised. This community is always stepping up for social services and helping people, it’s just a good community,” Kurtz said. “We’re very pleased, we’re very happy to be supported that way.”

By replacing the old levy (which had operated under 1998 property tax values) with one that applies current property tax values, Children Services will receive an additional $800,000 per year for the next 10 years. The levy had previously generated just under $1 million each year, Kurtz said, which means that the replacement will nearly double the agency’s yearly tax revenue.

For a county taxpayer who has a property value of $100,000, Kurtz estimates this will raise yearly dues to Children Services from $20 to $45. The agency’s levy comes up for a vote every 10 years and was originally approved by voters in 1988.

Kurtz told Knox Pages last week that this additional funding is needed to account for the sharp increase in the number of children who have come to the agency for care.

Over the last 10 years, the average number of children in Children Services’ custody (based on monthly totals) has jumped from 35 children (which cost $340,000 per year in placement costs) to 122 children (which cost the agency $2.6 million in placement costs in 2017).

Kurtz believes there is a direct correlation between the drug epidemic (drug overdose deaths have more than tripled statewide since 2013) and the number of local children needing care. 75 percent of Children Services’ cases today are “drug involved,” according to a fact sheet provided by the agency.

“When parents are unable to care for them due to physical and mental health reasons (including drug addiction), we are here to provide care for them,” Kurtz said in an email. “We often partner with family members to help with care for children, as this is usually a less traumatic disruption for the child. When family isn’t available, we place children into foster care.

“Some of the children have been so damaged by the abuse or neglect that they need treatment in a hospital-like setting for some period of time. This type of placement is quite expensive. So it’s important that we have the financial support of the levy to accomplish this mission.”

Kurtz added that “every dollar of the additional $800,000 will be needed to provide a safe place for children in our care.”

Children Services actively campaigned to get this issue passed, as the agency’s campaign committee organized speaking events at local service clubs and civic organizations to increase awareness of the levy. The committee also provided yard signs in support of the levy for those interested.

Kurtz said Tuesday that he believes his campaign committee was “just able to connect with the public,” which became crucial to the vote’s passage.

“Once they understood that this is about children and it’s about innocent victims of the drug epidemic, it’s just… we’re here to help these children that are innocent victims and support them, and try to give them a childhood while their parents are in recovery,” Kurtz said.

Knox County Children Services offers a multitude of services for local children in need, including risk assessment/investigation of child abuse and neglect, child protective services, child care, foster care, adoption, post-adoption support and advocacy, among others.

Given all that the agency offers to Knox County’s youth, Kurtz believes the passage of the replacement levy was about much more than just money.

“It was essential because we were to the point where we spent our rainy day fun and we needed this to pay for the placement of children in safe places, both in foster homes and in residential care,” Kurtz said. “All of the additional $800,000 generated by the levy is going to being able to put these children in safe places. That’s all it’s about.”

The result is unofficial until certified by the elections board. To see all local election results, click here.