Auglaize health district seeks replacement levy
Apr. 29—WAPAKONETA — Voters in Auglaize County will be asked to approve an .85-mill, 10-year replacement levy for the Auglaize County Board of Health during this year's May 6 election. The levy, if approved, will fill a void created when the district's current 1-mill levy expires.
The .85-mill levy sought by the health board — although on its face a reduction in tax collections — actually will ask residents to dig just a little deeper into their wallets. County Health Commissioner Oliver Fisher said the health district has been operating for the past 30 years on renewals of an existing 1995 levy. A replacement levy, instead of another renewal, will allow the district to capitalize on property values that have risen substantially in the past three decades.
The renewal levy, Fisher said, will assess property owners at a rate of $29.75 per $100,000 of valuation. That marks a slight increase from current assessments.
Fisher is sympathetic to families that are already on edge due to a host of financial uncertainties but said the health board's first increase in 30 years is needed to keep the district's diverse public health outreach and prevention programs afloat.
"When we put a levy renewal before voters 10 years ago we had great support. Nearly 75% of the votes cast were in favor. I realize it's a different economic climate now and that some families are struggling, but at the same time we need to get caught up with current (real estate) evaluations," Fisher said. "I'm hoping the voters will support us again."
The replacement levy, if approved, will generate nearly $1.4 million annually to support a wide range of services to the more than 45,000 residents of Auglaize County. A sample of offerings and programs made possible through the health department include:
—Community outreach efforts, including providing education for health professionals, participating in community health assessment efforts and health improvement plans.
—WIC, or Women, Infants and Children, which provides supplemental food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support to low-income women with children up to age 5.
—Help Me Grow, a free program for expectant parents and their children up to the age of 3.
—Child car seat classes and child seat giveaways.
—Cribs for Kids program, which provides Pack-and-Play cribs (based on income eligibility) so infants have a safe place to sleep.
—Emergency preparedness, which offers training for public health leaders on how to respond during an emergency.
"People are sometimes surprised at what all we do," said Fisher. "We do a lot behind the scenes but when people need us, we're there."
A five-member board of health directs the district's policies. The health commissioner said a "team effort" is crucial to the levy's passage.
"We have a levy committee that's working hard to get the word out. We hope the community will support us," Fisher said. "If the levy fails, we may have to look at some program cuts ... which is something we really don't want to do."
Featured Local Savings
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
7 hours ago
- Forbes
What's Worth Up To $60 Trillion? Learning To Serve Women Investors
Let's be clear: wealth management is at a tipping point—and if you're not paying attention to women, you're leaving serious money—and growth—on the table. McKinsey's latest report, 'The New Face of Wealth: The Rise of the FemaleInvestor,' reveals a game-changing truth: women now control roughly one-third of retail financial assets in the U.S. and Europe, totaling about $60 trillion. That's not a trend; it's a seismic shift that's only going to accelerate, with women's share expected to hit 40 to 45 percent by 2030. Despite the surge in female-controlled wealth—up 51% since 2018—more than half of these assets aren't being actively managed by financial advisors. That's over $10 trillion in opportunity, largely overlooked. For advisors who can meet women on their terms, the path to growth is wide open. If your practice hasn't made women a strategic priority, now is the time to start. Here's how… $60 Trillion and Rising: The Female Wealth Revolution McKinsey's research attributes women's financial power and growth to a mix of social changes and economic independence. More women are heading households, building businesses, inheriting wealth, and living longer than previous generations. Factors such as declining marriage rates, increased divorce rates, and a growing population of financially autonomous single women contribute to this shift. Additionally, women's educational achievements and access to higher-paying roles continue to rise, enabling greater wealth accumulation irrespective of marital status. Women are shaping their financial futures with a broader view that blends wealth preservation with purpose and legacy. McKinsey's findings reveal growing financial confidence among women—between 2018 and 2023, financial comfort among European women rose from 45% to 67%, driven largely by millennial women. U.S. women under 50 showed a similar boost, from 48% to 61%. This transformation means wealth managers must rethink their approach—not just add women as an afterthought, but redesign strategies to engage, educate, and empower this dynamic client segment from the ground up. Strategy #1: Cultivate Authentic Relationships Beyond Transactions Women seek trusted advisors who listen and provide tailored guidance, not just product pitches. Building genuine, ongoing relationships based on open communication fosters loyalty and creates a foundation for deeper collaboration. Take time to understand what success looks like for each female client—not only in financial terms but also how their wealth supports their life goals and values. This empathetic approach differentiates your service and builds long-term partnerships. As the report emphasizes, women's preferences for advice often differ from men's. For example, 76% of women want at least annual investment advice, with this preference increasing with age. Many women especially value personalized, in-person guidance during major life transitions such as divorce or widowhood. Advisors who build diverse, inclusive teams tend to retain female clients better during these critical moments. Strategy #2: Break the Stereotypes and Personalize Your Approach No two women investors are the same, so it's critical to move away from cookie-cutter solutions. Segment your female clients by their distinct goals, risk appetites, and life stages. For some, growth and entrepreneurship may dominate; for others, wealth protection and legacy planning might be the key focus. Develop customized offerings and communications that resonate with each subgroup. This personal touch signals respect and understanding—qualities women increasingly prioritize in financial relationships. McKinsey's research identifies several female investor archetypes worth considering: - Young, engaged investors – Tech-savvy, cost-conscious, and eager to take an active role in managing their portfolios. - Investment-savvy retirees – Experienced investors seeking high-quality, trustworthy advice. - Pre-retiree guidance seekers – Prefer comprehensive, in-person planning and value relationship-driven service. Tailoring your services and outreach to these varied groups can boost both relevance and long-term loyalty. Strategy #3: Integrate Technology with Human Insight Women investors often value both digital convenience and the human touch. Offering tech-enabled tools for financial tracking and planning can enhance engagement, especially with younger clients who expect digital fluency. However, the report stresses that meaningful conversations and expert guidance remain vital. Balance technology with regular, thoughtful advisor interactions to deliver a holistic client experience. Strategy #4: Empower Through Transparent and Collaborative FinancialEducation Women often value financial advice that emphasizes clarity, empowerment, and collaboration rather than jargon or high-pressure sales tactics. Offering workshops, webinars, or informal sessions on topics like investment strategies, retirement planning, or estate considerations creates an environment where clients feel informed and confident in their decisions. This approach positions you as a trusted partner invested in their financial goals and independence, encouraging earlier and deeper engagement. It also addresses a key insight from McKinsey's latest research—that many women begin working with financial advisors later than men (for example, 35% of U.S. women start after age 45, compared to 28% of men). By providing accessible, ongoing educational opportunities, advisors can foster trust and build meaningful relationships from the start. Strategy #5: Build an Inclusive Team Culture Diversity within your advisory team can enhance your ability to connect authentically with female clients. A team that reflects varied backgrounds and experiences will bring richer perspectives to client conversations and create an environment where women feel understood and valued. Beyond gender, prioritize inclusivity in all dimensions—including age, culture, and expertise—to strengthen your firm's culture and client relationships. While women do not necessarily prefer female advisors exclusively, McKinsey shows that diverse teams—encompassing gender and other underrepresented groups—have been proven to better retain female clients during major life transitions. Recruiting and mentoring diverse talent not only strengthens client engagement but also future-proofs your firm in a changing demographic landscape. The Path Forward The financial landscape is changing, and women investors are at the forefront of this evolution. For wealth managers, embracing this reality is more than smart, it's essential to sustainable growth. The future belongs to those who recognize that serving women investors is not a niche strategy—it's a fundamental business shift with the power to transform
Business Wire
5 days ago
- Business Wire
John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. to Present and Host 1x1 Investor Meetings at the
ELGIN, Ill--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- John B. Sanflippo & Son, Inc. (NASDAQ: JBSS), today announced Jeffrey T. Sanfilippo, CEO and Michael J. Finn, Vice President and Corporate Controllerwill present at the East Coast IDEAS Investor Conference on Thursday, June 12, 2025 at The Westin Times Square in New York, NY. John B. Sanfilippo and Son, Inc.'s presentation is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. ET. The presentation is webcast and can be accessed through the conference host's main website: About IDEAS Investor Conferences The mission of the IDEAS Conferences is to provide independent regional venues for quality companies to present their investment merits to an influential audience of investment professionals. Unlike traditional bank-sponsored events, IDEAS Investor Conferences are 'SPONSORED BY INVESTORS. FOR INVESTORS.' and for the benefit of regional investment communities. Conference sponsors collectively have more than $200 billion in assets under management and include: 1102 Partners, Adirondack Research and Management, Allianz Global Investors: NFJ Investment Group, Ariel Investments, Aristotle Capital Boston, Ascend Wealth Advisors, Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss, BMO Global Asset Management, Constitution Research & Management, Inc., Diamond Hill, First Wilshire Securities Management, Inc., Granahan Investment Management, Great Lakes Advisors, Greenbrier Partners Capital Management, LLC, Hodges Capital Management, Ironwood Investment Management, Keeley Teton Advisors, Luther King Capital Management, Marble Harbor Investment Counsel, North Star Investment Management, Perritt Capital Management, Punch & Associates, Shepherd Kaplan Krochuk, Westwood Holdings Group, Inc., and William Harris Investors. About John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. Based in Elgin, Illinois, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. is a processor, packager, marketer and distributor of nut and dried fruit products, snack bars, and dried cheese snacks, that are sold under the Company's Fisher ®, Orchard Valley Harvest ®, Squirrel Brand ®, Southern Style Nuts ® and Just the Cheese ® brand names and under a variety of private brands.
Geek Tyrant
5 days ago
- Geek Tyrant
Dakota Johnson Opens Up About the MADAME WEB Mess - 'It Wasn't My Fault' — GeekTyrant
Madame Web has firmly cemented itself as a disaster of a comic book movie. With a 12% Rotten Tomatoes score, a worldwide gross just over $100 million, and more memes than fans, it didn't exactly stick the landing. Dakota Johnson, the face of the film's chaos, recently did an interview with The Los Angeles Times, and when asked about the flop. Her response? A sharp laugh and: 'It wasn't my fault.' She went on to elaborate: 'There's this thing that happens now where a lot of creative decisions are made by committee. Or made by people who don't have a creative bone in their body. 'And it's really hard to make art that way. Or to make something entertaining that way. And I think unfortunately with Madame Web, it started out as something and turned into something else.' That 'something else' ended up being a confusing mess of half-baked plot threads, bad dialogue, and Spider-Women with almost no Spider-ing. Johnson, who played Cassandra Webb, became the unwilling symbol of a movie that never really had a chance. Despite a cast that included Sydney Sweeney and Isabela Merced, the film felt like a product assembled in a boardroom with bullet points instead of a story. She added: 'I was just sort of along for the ride at that point. But that happens. Bigger-budget movies fail all the time. I don't have a Band-Aid over it. 'There's no part of me that's like, 'Oh, I'll never do that again' to anything. I've done even tiny movies that didn't do well. Who cares?' Madame Web was once rumored to have ties to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe, possibly featuring a young Peter Parker under the protection of Cassandra and the Spider-Women. Instead, audiences got a vague prequel with a pregnant Mary Parker whose storyline went nowhere and a plot that felt like it had been shredded in a multiversal blender. So, what really happened? Studio interference. Creative-by-committee. A genre machine trying to reverse-engineer another hit without understanding why the good ones work. Dakota Johnson may not have escaped the wreckage unscathed, but at least she's honest about the ride and ready to move on.
