Hamilton County voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to renew and increase the children's-services property-tax levy. Issue 10 would raise the cost from $81.15 to $121 per $100,000 of property value for four years, about a 50% increase.
The levy supports the county's child-abuse hotline, child-protection investigations, foster care, adoption and family reunification. County officials say higher out-of-home placement costs, more children in foster care and greater needs are driving the increase.
If approved, commissioners would still need to shift general-budget money to children's services; the county cut those services by $36 million in its last budget. If it fails, the current levy expires this year, leaving the county to find money for many legally mandated services in a budget officials have described as difficult to balance. The Cincinnati Regional Chamber and Hamilton County Democratic Party endorsed Issue 10. The county Republican Party has not taken a position; its chair said the campaign should address concerns about property-tax bills.
