Lake County ADAMHS board seeks renewal of 1989 levy

Opioid epidemic and preventing deaths strain resources

The Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board is asking Lake County’s 156,432 registered voters to renew its levy in the May 8 Primary Election.

The levy costs Lake County homeowners $21.15 annually per $100,000 property valuation, according to the Lake County Auditor’s Office. Voters are being asked to renew the levy for an additional 10 years.

According to ADAMHS Board Executive Director Kim Fraser, the levy was first approved by voters in 1989, renewed in 1999 and was replaced in 2008. Without renewal, the levy would cease collection at the end of 2018.

Fraser said 70 percent of the ADAMHS board’s revenue comes from local levies.

“It’s really the lifeblood of the system,” she said.

Funding from the levy goes to support things like suicide prevention efforts and efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, she said. It also supports services for children and families.

“We’re fortunate to have a strong array of behavioral health services in this county,” Fraser said. “When people need mental health and addiction recovery services, they can get those and that’s because of this

“It’s really the lifeblood of the system.”

— ADAMHS Board Executive Director Kim Fraser said of the levy

levy funding. That makes it possible.”

Fraser said there are 17 organizations that get funding through the ADAMHS board.

“Those agencies, places like Crossroads, Signature Health, Big Brothers Big Sisters, rely on our funding to make services possible for the community,” she said.