Children services levy passes, Ottawa Hills income tax defeated

Lucas County voters solidly backed renewal of a 1.8-mill children’s services levy at the polls Tuesday, while Ottawa Hills residents turned down an income-tax increase and Sylvania Township added half a mill to its levy for the Sylvania Senior Center.

Randy Muth, Lucas County Children Services’ executive director, said the renewal’s approval in 64 percent of about 59,500 ballots cast, with all precincts reporting, was a vote of confidence in his agency’s performance at a time when strong anti-tax sentiment made him nervous.

“It’s now up to us to validate and continue to earn that confidence,” Mr. Muth said. “We’ll do this by continuing to listen to the community, by engaging in strategic partnerships, and by continuing to learn and improve as an agency.”

The renewal is for five years an