Nearly half of all Ohio counties have a health or social service levy on the ballot

Local property tax levies are an important source of funding for a variety of health and social service programs in Ohio. They fund everything from A (abuse and neglect investigations) to Z (Zika virus surveillance). Community Solutions identified 42 of Ohio’s 88 counties that have at least one levy for health or social services in this year’s November general election. We compiled our list by looking at sample ballots downloaded from each county’s board of elections. Included in our list are levies that support public health, children’s services, senior services, developmental disabilities, mental health and recovery, public hospitals, or health and human services generally.

Community Solutions identified 42 of Ohio’s 88 counties that have at least one levy for health or social services in this year’s November general election.

As shown in the table, there are a total of 51 health or human service levies. Most are renewals or replacements. Eleven communities are seeking additional levies or increases in response to increased community need. Several counties have two levies related to health or social services on the ballot, and Preble County has three (children’s services, health and mental health & recovery).

CountyLevy CategoryType of RequestRate RequestedLevy Period
AllenChildren's ServicesRenewal0.75 mill5 Years
AshlandHealthRenewal + Increase0.45 mill5 Years
AshtabulaDevelopmental DisabilitiesRenewal2 mill7 Years
AshtabulaMental HealthRenewal0.6 mill5 Years
AthensChildren's ServicesRenewal + Increase2 mill + 0.5 mill10 Years
AthensHealthRenewal0.3 mill5 Years
ColumbianaHealthRenewal0.2 mill10 Years
CoshoctonChildren's ServicesRenewal1 mill5 Years
DefianceHealth DistrictRenewal1.1 mill5 Years
ErieMental HealthRenewal0.5 mill5 Years
ErieHealthRenewal0.3 mill5 Years
FranklinChildren's ServicesRenewal3.1 mill10 Years
FultonSenior ServicesRenewal + Increase1.6 mill + 0.1 mill5 Years
GeaugaDevelopmental DisabilitiesRenewal1 millContinuing
GeaugaMental HealthRenewal0.7 mill5 Years
GuernseySenior ServicesRenewal1 mill5 Years
HamiltonDevelopmental DisabilitiesRenewal4.13 mill5 Years
HamiltonFamily Services & Treatment ProgramsRenewal0.34 mill5 Years
HarrisonChildren's ServicesRenewal0.5 mill5 Years
HockingDevelopmental DisabilitiesAdditional1.5 mill5 Years
HolmesCounty HomeRenewal1.5 mill5 Years
HuronHealthReplacement & Increase0.25 mill5 Years
JacksonDevelopmental DisabilitiesReplacement & Increase1 mill + 1 millContinuing
JacksonHealthRenewal0.5 mill10 years
JeffersonSenior ServicesRenewal1.2 mill5 Years
LawrenceDevelopmental DisabilitiesAdditional2.5 mill10 Years
LickingSenior ServicesReplacement & Increase1.2 mill5 Years
LucasSenior ServicesRenewal + Increase0.6 mill + 0.15 mill5 Years
MadisonHealth DistrictRenewal + Increase1 mill5 Years
MarionDevelopmental DisabilitiesAdditional1.7 mill10 Years
MedinaDevelopmental DisabilitiesRenewal1.12 mill10 Years
MedinaHealth & Human ServicesAdditional1 mill5 Years
MercerCounty HomeRenewal1 mill5 Years
MorganSenior ServicesRenewal0.3 mill5 Years
MuskingumHealthRenewal0.4 mill5 Years
OttawaMental Health & RecoveryRenewal0.5 mill5 Years
PauldingDevelopmental DisabilitiesRenewal1 mill5 Years
PerryCounty HomeRenewal2 mill5 Years
PortageChildren's ServicesRenewal0.75 mill5 Years
PrebleChildren?s ServicesRenewal0.6 mill4 Years
PrebleHealthRenewal0.3 mill5 Years
PrebleMental Health & RecoveryReplacement0.65 mill10 Years
PutnamMental Health & RecoveryRenewal0.7 mill5 Years
SanduskyHealth DistrictRenewal0.5 mill5 Years
StarkChildren's ServicesReplacement1.4 mill5 Years
SummitMental Health & RecoveryRenewal2.95 mill6 Years
TrumbullSenior ServicesRenewal0.75 mill5 Years
WarrenHealthRenewal0.5 mill10 Years
WayneChildren's ServicesRenewal0.2 mill5 Years
WilliamsSenior ServicesRenewal1 mill5 Years
WyandotSenior ServicesAdditional1 mill5 Years

Property tax rates are listed as millage rates, or mills, which represent the amount each homeowner would have to pay per every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. A dozen communities have levies supporting public health on the general election ballot, making it the most common type of levy. Next week Community Solutions will review the election results and see how these levies fare.

Tomorrow, voters in communities across the state have the opportunity to support services that help the most vulnerable. Don’t forget to vote!