GENEROUS, TO A POINT

Lucas County voters underscored their unwavering support for public safety
and compassion for the vulnerable by approving most of Tuesday's ballot
issues by wide margins. An unfortunate exception was the ADAS board's
alcohol and drug services levy, which was rejected again, an indication
that many still don't accept addiction as everyone's problem.

Thanks to voters' support, the 911 system will be upgraded, the mental
retardation board won't have to cut services, and Children Services can
continue caring for abused and neglected youth.

However, the Lucas County Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services board issue
was narrowly rejected, with 48,279 voting against Issue 4 and 47,164 voting
for it. ADAS had sought a 0.5-mill levy for agencies under its umbrella to
provide treatment to drug and alcohol addicts. In March, 2000, ADAS
unsuccessfully sought a 0.35-mill levy from voters.

ADAS was a relative unknown then; it had never asked for taxpayer support
before. But although voters are somewhat more familiar with it now, the
board still failed to make its case that addiction is a community issue.

The notion that individuals get themselves addicted and should get clean on
their own is not only callous and uncaring, it doesn't recognize the harm
done to their families, their jobs, and the community in general. Plainly,
the community pays one way or another.

Fortunately, voters were more compassionate about Children Services and the
Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities board. Children Services'
1.4-mill levy, a lower millage, was approved easily, as was the mental
retardation board's 3 mills. The passage of both issues shows that the
public wants the defenseless in our community properly cared for.

It will also help that voters approved the 911 levy. That 0.7-mill levy
will allow police, fire, and emergency medical workers to communicate with
each other by radio. And while it was not a big surprise that Toledo's 0.75
percent payroll tax passed by a 2-1 margin, it can never be taken for
granted that voters will merely approve a measure again simply because they
have in the past. The payroll tax, for city services, has been approved
five times now.

All in all, voters showed commendable support for maintaining Toledo's
quality of life. Perhaps in time they will also accept the community's role
in treating addiction.