Three Levies Worth $25 Million Up for Vote in Butler and Warren Counties

Voters in Butler and Warren counties will decide on Nov. 3 whether to renew three property tax levies that fund mental health and senior services. The measures are worth a combined $25 million annually. Providers serving seniors, families, and individuals with mental health needs warn that programs will shrink if the renewals do not pass.

In Butler County, residents will vote on a 1-mill levy that supports the Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Services Board. The measure, first passed in 2006, is estimated to collect $8.46 million per year. That amount represents more than a third of the board’s $21 million annual budget. If approved, the levy would last another ten years. It costs property owners $20 for every $100,000 of assessed value.

Scott Rasmus, executive director of the Butler County board, said the funding supports therapy, psychiatric care, and education to prevent alcohol and drug misuse. He cited an effort to add 50 new beds to a residential treatment facility in Lemon Township. Rasmus noted that one in four Butler County residents will experience a mental health or addiction disorder each year. He said the board serves 50,000 residents directly through partner providers.

Warren County voters will see two separate measures. One is a 1-mill levy for the Mental Health Recovery Board Serving Warren and Clinton Counties. It would generate nearly $7.7 million annually for five more years. The cost to a homeowner with a $100,000 home is $16 per year. Megan Crouch, associate director of SAFE on Main, said the board funds 75 percent of the agency’s prevention efforts. Her organization provides support for victims of sexual and domestic violence, including a 20-bed shelter and education for 400 students each year.

The second Warren County measure is a 1.21-mill levy for the Elderly Services Program. It is estimated to generate more than $9 million each year. If renewed for five years, it costs $22 for every $100,000 of property value. Kim Clark, vice president of community services for the Ohio Council on Aging, said 94 percent of the program’s funding comes from this levy. The program helped 2,777 Warren County residents in 2025. Clark stated the program would be finished without the levy.

Proponents argue the levies are renewals, not new taxes. They cite a 1976 Ohio law that requires the collected amount to decrease as property values increase. Rasmus said the board is not trying to increase the tax burden but to hold onto existing services. Sara Bishop, a resident who uses the senior program, said the levy helped her move into an accessible apartment with daily meals and emergency response systems. She said the program prevents residents from living in cars or on the streets.

At least one Butler County commissioner has expressed unease about the mental health levy due to accounting issues and internal oversight concerns, according to local reporting. The Butler County measure would expand services for populations at risk of suicide, overdose, and veteran and child needs. The Warren County mental health levy is identical to a measure on the ballot in Clinton County. All three levies expire if not renewed by voters on Nov. 3.