On Tuesday, November 5, or before with the opportunity for early voting, Ohioans will convene to cast their ballot for the general election. Several Ohio counties will have health and human service levies on their ballots. Proposed tax levies across Ohio use mills, which conveys the amount a homeowner would pay for a levy. Ohioans will also vote on Issue 1, “Establishing the Citizens Redistricting Commission Initiative.” We’ve summarized the HHS levies that will appear across Ohio’s 88 counties and summarize Issue 1, as the only statewide ballot issue.
We’ve summarized the HHS levies that will appear across Ohio’s 88 counties and summarize Issue 1, as the only statewide ballot issue.
Health and Human Service Levies on the November 2024 ballot
Information for HHS levies appearing on November ballots was gathered from the Secretary of State, where we sorted and analyzed levy information on all 88 counties. We also connected with partners across health and human services. This November, 61 health and human service levies appear on ballots across Ohio.
Senior services represent most HHS levies, appearing 17 times in 16 counties. Children’s services are the second largest category, appearing in 16 counties across Ohio. Below is a breakdown of levies by category.
Additional, Replacement, Renewal Category Analysis
Total Breakdown of All HHS Levies by Type
Ohio counties have 47 renewal levies on the 2024 ballot
Renewal levies are the most prevalent HHS levy appearing on ballots this November. There are 48 renewal levies, with an additional five renewal/increase, and one renewal/decrease. Defiance, Franklin, Guernsey, Lucas, and Summit County are the counties renewal/increase levies, and Paulding County the county with a renewal/decrease levy. In total there are 47 renewal levies appearing on ballots this November.
Renewal levies extend the function of a levy while also being considerate of the current valuation of property. To do this, the millage for a property is adjusted to collect the same amount of capital as the original levy.
Analyzing renewal levies by type, senior services are the most prominent, appearing in Athens, Crawford, Defiance, Gallia, Guernsey, Licking, Lucas, Ottawa, Scioto, and Williams Counties. This is followed by mental health, children's services, and public health. There are two county home levies, appearing in Athens and Muskingum County. There are also two tuberculosis levies, appearing in Holmes and Perry County.
Ohio 9 replacement levies focus on children services and older adults
There are five replacement levies, with an additional two replacement/increase and two replacement/decrease. Fulton, Hancock, Jefferson, Portage, Scioto, and Trumbull Counties have replacement levies. Adams and Paulding County are the counties with replacement/increase levies. Bellmont and Highland County are the counties with replacement/decrease levies. In total, 9 counties have replacement levies appearing on their ballots. Replacement levies are levies that extend the conditions and terms of a levy. These levies benefit from an increase in appraisal.
Examining replacement levies, children's service levies appear most frequently across four counties: Adams, Belmont, Hancock, and Portage County. This is followed by senior services levies, which appear in Fulton, Paulding, and Trumbull Counties. There is one mental health levy in Jefferson County, and one public health levy in Highland County. The most common replacement HHS levies are children’s services and senior services.
Five additional levies are on ballots this November
Additional levies are levies used for a single purpose, usually intended for general or defined fees, or for lasting improvement. Additional levies also collect taxes that are included within a current levy.
Breaking down additional levies by type, developmental disabilities appear in two counties: Hardin and Union County. There is one mental health levy in Butler County, one children's services levy in Lucas County, and one senior services levy in Holmes County.
What is Issue 1?
Issue 1 is a citizen-initiated ballot initiative that, if passed, would establish the Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission (CRC). This commission will be made up of 15 members: five Democrats, five independent members, and five Republicans. The CRC will be responsible for adopting state redistricting plans, which will be deliberated in public meetings. If adopted into law, Ohio would be the ninth state to erect a congressional redistricting commission made up by citizens, not politicians.
What are supporters saying about Issue 1?
Proponents of Issue 1 claim that it seeks to undo the harmful effects of gerrymandering by banning politicians and lobbyists from creating unequal districts. Gerrymandering, as defined by the League of Women Voters, is the “manipulation of political districts to rig the outcome of elections to favor one political party or candidate over another.” Proponents of Issue 1 claim it will put an end to gerrymandering by banning elected officials or lobbyists from sitting on the 15-council Redistricting Commission and requires the Commission to carry out its duties in a transparent process.
Read the complete proponent argument of Issue 1.
What are opponents saying about Issue 1?
Opponents of Issue 1 claim that the goals of the proposed citizen initiative will create unaccountable bureaucracy whose “members are chosen out of a hat by four retired judges, an unknown private hiring firm and commission members themselves.” Opponents also claim that Issue 1 will grant unelected commission members with unlimited power to spend Ohio’s tax dollars with no standards of control by Ohio voters.
Read the complete opponent argument of Issue 1.
Levies are important to health and human services because they support the critical function of programs and institutions across Ohio.
Conclusion
Levies are important to health and human services because they support the critical function of programs and institutions across Ohio. These services work to provide needed support for the health and wellbeing of Ohioans so that they can receive the proper care to address their concerns and needs. Presidential candidates tend to receive significant attention when general elections come up, however, it is just as important for voters to be aware of issues and levies that will be on their ballot as well. Stay tuned for our follow up piece where we recap the results of the election, including which levies passed and did not pass. Be sure to also check your board of elections for your polling location as well.
