And they come at a time when budget cuts to social services make it impossible to keep up with the need.

Belmont County Job and Family Services Director Dwayne Pielich went before the county commission, pleading his case for a levy that he said could literally save lives.

His agency has been cut by $2 million since June.

They've laid off staff.

Still their director says there's no way they can keep up with the atrocities committed against the youngest and the oldest among us.

Dwayne Pielich says the outcome could literally be tragic.

"The failure of this budget will not be gauged in how many workers lose their jobs," he said. "It will be gauged in body counts."

So he asked commissioners to approve a levy.

He wants to call it the Children and Adult levy.

He says it would help two segments of the population who are often victimized by neglect and abuse--children and the elderly.

And he plans to start a community campaign.

"To tell the story about these frail adults and to tell about these abused children," Pielich said.

Prosecutor Chris Berhalter says he has seen the worst that people do to children.

"We have seen serial pedophiles. We have seen infants with their bones broken. We have seen the murder of an infant," said Berhalter.

He said the sheriff's department has seen child abuse cases increase four-fold since 2005.

"And you also have in Belmont County a wonderful excellent well-trained team investigating these cases," he said, "from law enforcement to Children's Services. And these budget cuts are going to break up that team."

He said the levy--if passed by the voters--would keep the team in place.

And it would create a Harmony House child advocacy center in Belmont County for the first time.

"That means every child in Belmont County that's been abused or neglected will receive the best possible care," Berhalter said.

"With the increase of the caseload that we have, their interviews are excellent," said Detective Bob Couch of the Belmont County Sheriff's Department. "They've met the needs of every child I've ever taken over there (to the Wheeling Harmony House) for an interview. We really need this in Belmont County."

Commissioner Chuck Probst, a long-time e-squad member, says he knows that children and the elderly are victimized.

"It's amazing the number of calls that we were on, for abused or neglected children and also older adults," Probst said. "I do have a passion for this."

Commissioners Ginny Favede and Matt Coffland agreed whole-heartedly, and the vote was unanimous to place the levy on the ballot.

They plan to explain the levy to the public in detail in September.

They said they realize these are tough times to pass a levy.

But they said without it, some of their clients could lose their lives.