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Franklin County

and

Children 1 First

Franklin County Family and Children First Council

2008-09 Budget Priorities

Council

www.franklinfamilyfirst.org

The Franklin County Family and Children First Council urges the following actions by the 127th Ohio General Assembly: Address the effects of the elimination of the Tangible Personal Property Tax on social service agencies. The revenue lost by the three child and family-serving agencies in Franklin County totals almost $120 million.

Support the increased funding included in the Executive Budget for early care and education, Help Me Grow, and Access to Better Care (ABC).

Address revenue shortfall for social service agencies due to elimination of TPPT The elimination of the TPPT over the phase-out period puts a tremendous burden on social service agencies, particularly those relying on tax levy revenue beginning in 2011.

Over the course of the phase-out period, the total lost revenue to the three child and family-serving agencies (ADAMH, MRDD, and Children Services) during the phase-out period of the replacement funds for the TPPT between 2011 and 2017 totals $120 million.

The effect of this lost revenue on these organizations totals up to 10% of total budgets, and up to 12% of revenue generated by local property taxes.

Family and Children First Council encourages the General Assembly to establish a commission to study the effects of the elimination of the TPPT on social service agencies. Creating this commission in the 2008-09 biennium is critical to the state being prepared to address the issue after the tax phase-out is complete in 2011.

Support programs that increase the quality and quantity of the early care and education system Family and Children First Council supports increasing the reimbursement rate for all early care centers to the federallyrecommended 65th percentile. An adequate and fair reimbursement rate will ensure that teachers are well-qualified and early care centers are better equipped to teach Ohio's children.

Family and Children First Council supports the expansion of Step Up To Quality (quality-based incentive program for early care and education centers) and TEACH (teacher scholarships for centers who have at least one Step Up To Quality star).

Family and Children First Council supports harmonizing all child care programs' eligibility levels to 200% of FPL.

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Franklin County Family and Children First Council

2008-09 Budget Priorities Support increased funding and expansion of Help Me Grow Help Me Grow delivers educational and development support services to pregnant women and families with children aged birth to three, at risk for or having a developmental delay. Help Me Grow provides service coordination, child development and parenting training through home visiting, developmental screenings and evaluations, outreach to find children with delays, linking families with services in the community and parent support. Family and Children First Councils manage and implement the Help Me Grow program across the state.

Family and Children First Council supports the increased funding for the Help Me Grow program by $7.3 million in FY 2008 and by $17.0 million in FY 2009.

This increased funding will allow this critical program to serve an additional 3,000 infants and to enhance quality of care, increasing the amount available to be spent per child by $450, through a combination of GRF and TANF funding sources.

In Franklin County, Help Me Grow has provided important services to approximately 3,300 children to improve child health and development as well as providing approximately 2,800 Newborn Home Visits to teen mothers and first time parents. With the budget increase, an additional 300 infants could receive these vital services.

Support increased funding and expansion of Access to Better Care (ABC) The ABC initiative focuses on prevention, early assessment and effective treatment based on the belief that family participation is paramount, services should be offered within the local community whenever possible, and system collaborations is essential to success.

Family and Children First Council supports continued funding for the Access to Better Care line item and the other ABC line items.

Family and Children First Council supports a $1.3 million increase over the biennium for behavioral health prevention, early intervention and treatment services with focus on community based services.

Franklin County Family and Children First Council urges the following actions by the 127th General Assembly on HB 119.

Charge a commission to study the effects of the elimination of the Tangible Personal Property Tax on levy-dependent social service agencies. This commission should be charged with developing a plan to address the shortfalls for social services agencies beginning in 2011.

Support increased funding for early care and education, Help Me Grow, and Access to Better Care (ABC).

Franklin County Family and Children First Council 855 West Mound Street Columbus, Ohio 43223 www.franklinfamilyfirst.org

614-275-2613