Levy Failure Would Cut $25 Million in Local Services

Property owners in Butler and Warren counties face three ballot measures on Nov. 3 that determine the survival of local services for seniors, families, and those with mental health needs. If all three levies fail, officials estimate the region will lose access to roughly $25 million in annual funding for critical programs. These are renewal votes, not new taxes, meaning the cost to homeowners remains tied to property values rather than a fixed amount.

The timeline for these funding streams began over a decade ago. Butler County passed its 1-mill mental health levy in 2006. Warren County’s 1-mill mental health levy and 1.21-mill senior services levy are now reaching the end of their current terms. Ohio law from 1976 requires the dollar amount collected from these levies to decrease as property values rise, ensuring that inflation erodes the purchasing power of the funds even if the tax rate stays the same.

Butler County residents will decide whether to renew a 1-mill levy that supports the Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services Board. If approved, the measure would last another ten years and generate an estimated $8.46 million annually. That sum represents more than a third of the board’s $21 million annual budget. The cost to a homeowner with a $100,000 property value is $20 per year. Scott Rasmus, executive director of the board, said the funding supports therapy, psychiatric care, and education to prevent substance misuse. He noted that one in four Butler County residents experiences a mental health or addiction disorder each year.

Rasmus stated that the board serves 50,000 residents directly each year through partner providers. He added that the funds would allow the board to add 50 new beds to a residential treatment facility in Lemon Township. Without the renewal, he said the board would have to cut programming for what he called critical populations, including veterans, children, and those at risk of suicide or overdose.

Warren County voters will consider a 1-mill levy to renew the Mental Health Recovery Board Serving Warren and Clinton Counties for five years. The measure would generate close to $7.7 million annually, costing $16 per year for a home valued at $100,000. Megan Crouch, associate director of SAFE on Main, said the board funds 75% of her agency’s prevention efforts. Her organization provides support for victims of sexual and domestic violence, including a 20-bed shelter and emergency therapy. Crouch said the agency handles 1,600 crisis calls per year and educates 400 junior and high school students annually. She warned that without the levy, SAFE on Main would have to lay off staff and reduce education programs.

Warren County will also vote on a 1.21-mill levy to support the Elderly Services Program for another five years. The measure is estimated to generate more than $9 million annually, costing $22 per year for every $100,000 of property value. Kim Clark, vice president of community services for the Ohio Council on Aging, said 94% of the program’s funding comes from this levy. The program assisted 2,777 Warren County residents in 2025 by helping them live at home with additional aid. Clark stated that if the levy fails, the program would finish, leaving those individuals at risk of losing all in-home services.

Sara Bishop, a resident of a Franklin senior apartment building, credited the program with helping her move into accessible housing with daily meals. She said the support included a walker, an emergency response system, and help around the apartment. Bishop noted that her previous home had stairs that caused her to fall. She encouraged voters to approve the measure, saying that as people age, they will likely need the services provided by the levy.

Butler County commissioners have expressed unease about the mental health levy following accounting issues and concerns about internal oversight, according to local reporting. The three measures are scheduled for the general election ballot on Nov. 3. Voters in Clinton County will also see an identical mental health levy measure to the one in Warren County.