Council endorses ADAMH levy renewal; presenters say crisis center usage shows early demand
October 06, 2025 | Columbus City Council, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio
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Columbus City Council on Oct. 6, 2025, adopted a resolution endorsing the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board of Franklin County’s property-tax levy renewal and increase (Issue 1) that will appear on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Council President Harden introduced the resolution and invited Erica Clark Jones, CEO of the ADAMH Board of Franklin County, and Monica Sarazuela, senior director of government affairs, to brief council. Clark Jones described the measure as a 10-year property-tax levy consisting of a renewal of the existing levy with a modest 0.5-mill increase; she and staff also cited a 3.35-mill figure in introductory remarks. Clark Jones said the levy represents a stable funding base for a network of more than 50 nonprofit partners that provide behavioral-health services across Franklin County.
Clark Jones told council that the Franklin County Crisis Care Center opened Sept. 2 and has seen nearly 450 individuals in its first four weeks of operation. “Sixty percent of the individuals were brought in by first responders, including EMS and police,” she said on the record, and “65 percent of the people that were discharged ... were connected to community based services for treatment and recovery.” She warned of programmatic consequences if voters do not approve the levy: “Without the passage of this levy, we are facing a 70% reduction in services across our community,” she said.
Clark Jones and Monica Sarazuela described ADAMH-funded services as a safety net available to all Franklin County residents regardless of insurance status, supporting crisis services (including 988 and mobile crisis units) and prevention services across all 16 public school districts in the county. The presenters quantified the levy’s tax impact as approximately $1.46 per month for a $100,000 home valuation, as reported to council.
Councilmembers asked no substantive follow-up questions on the floor. Council adopted the resolution by roll call following the presentation. The resolution is an endorsement; the levy itself is a county-administered ballot measure. ADAMH representatives said the levy would enable the crisis care center to become fully operational and sustain community behavioral-health services.
Council President Harden introduced the resolution and invited Erica Clark Jones, CEO of the ADAMH Board of Franklin County, and Monica Sarazuela, senior director of government affairs, to brief council. Clark Jones described the measure as a 10-year property-tax levy consisting of a renewal of the existing levy with a modest 0.5-mill increase; she and staff also cited a 3.35-mill figure in introductory remarks. Clark Jones said the levy represents a stable funding base for a network of more than 50 nonprofit partners that provide behavioral-health services across Franklin County.
Clark Jones told council that the Franklin County Crisis Care Center opened Sept. 2 and has seen nearly 450 individuals in its first four weeks of operation. “Sixty percent of the individuals were brought in by first responders, including EMS and police,” she said on the record, and “65 percent of the people that were discharged ... were connected to community based services for treatment and recovery.” She warned of programmatic consequences if voters do not approve the levy: “Without the passage of this levy, we are facing a 70% reduction in services across our community,” she said.
Clark Jones and Monica Sarazuela described ADAMH-funded services as a safety net available to all Franklin County residents regardless of insurance status, supporting crisis services (including 988 and mobile crisis units) and prevention services across all 16 public school districts in the county. The presenters quantified the levy’s tax impact as approximately $1.46 per month for a $100,000 home valuation, as reported to council.
Councilmembers asked no substantive follow-up questions on the floor. Council adopted the resolution by roll call following the presentation. The resolution is an endorsement; the levy itself is a county-administered ballot measure. ADAMH representatives said the levy would enable the crisis care center to become fully operational and sustain community behavioral-health services.
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