DELAWARE — Four local tax levies on the May 5 ballot will determine funding for fire departments, police operations and developmental disabilities programs across Delaware County.
Only one of those levies will appear on every ballot countywide. The others apply to specific communities.
In Ohio, local tax levies are the primary way communities fund services such as emergency response, policing and social programs.
Voters should note whether a levy is new, a renewal, a replacement or an increase, as each can affect property taxes differently.
Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on May 5. Voters can review their specific ballot and polling location through the Board of Elections website.
Here’s what voters need to know:
Developmental disabilities levy
The Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities (DCBDD) is asking voters to approve a 2.0-mill renewal with an additional 0.7 mills, totaling 2.7 mills, for five years.
It is the only levy on the ballot that applies to all voters in the county.
Voters last approved the levy in 2021, when it was reduced to 2 mills. The current request would renew that levy and increase funding for programs, services and facility needs.
The county auditor estimates the levy would generate about $27.1 million annually. For property owners, that equates to about $65 per $100,000 of appraised home value, or roughly $5.42 per month, with collections beginning in 2027 if approved.
What the levy funds
The DCBDD provides services for more than 2,300 residents, including children, adults and families.
Programs include early intervention for infants and toddlers, case management and coordination of care, and support services that help individuals live and work in the community.
Levy dollars also fund the county’s required local match for Medicaid waiver programs — the primary source of funding for long-term services. Those supports can include assistance with daily living, employment, transportation and home modifications.
The DCBDD website says demand for services is increasing as the population grows and more individuals live longer and transition into adulthood.
Adult services often require more intensive support and come at a higher cost. According to the DCBDD, the average annual cost for an adult receiving Medicaid waiver services is significantly higher than for a child.
The proposed levy would provide stable local funding over the next five years to help maintain services as demand increases.
Porter-Kingston fire levy would fund staffing, equipment
The Porter-Kingston Fire District is asking voters to approve an additional 2.5-mill continuing levy.
According to ballot language, the levy would fund fire apparatus, equipment, buildings, ambulance services and personnel.
The county auditor estimates the levy would generate about $769,737 annually, or about $88 per $100,000 of home value, with collections beginning in 2027.
Fire Chief Mike Thompson previously told Delaware Source the levy would support 24-hour staffing and help offset rising equipment costs.
The district has passed five levies since 1989. If approved, this would bring the total millage to 10.
Thompson said the district is currently collecting about 3.36 mills of the 7.5 mills in effect due to increased property values tied to development. The proposed levy would increase collections to about 5.86 mills.
Shawnee Hills police levy would replace expiring funding
The Village of Shawnee Hills is asking voters to approve an additional 1.75-mill levy for five years to support police operations.
The levy would replace an existing 2.5-mill levy that renews every three years and is set to expire before the new levy would take effect.
According to the county auditor, the levy would generate about $99,512 annually, or about $61 per $100,000 of home value, beginning in 2027.
Police Chief Russell Baron previously told Delaware Source the department relies on the village’s general fund but uses levy funding to maintain services.
“It allows the police department to operate as is and lets the village continue to spend their resources on other village-related projects,” Baron said.
The levy would fund vehicles, equipment, buildings and salaries.
Orange Township fire levy would extend existing funding
The Orange Township Fire Department is asking voters to approve an additional 2-mill levy for five years.
The levy would generate about $4.56 million annually, or about $70 per $100,000 of home value, with collections beginning in 2027.
According to ballot language, the funding would support fire equipment, buildings, ambulance services and personnel.
Fire Chief Nathan McNeil previously told Delaware Source the levy would help sustain operations and allow the department to plan ahead.
“In five years we’ll reevaluate the need,” McNeil said.
The department is also funded by a separate 7-mill renewal levy approved by voters in 2024. The current request would extend a levy first passed in November 2023, increasing its duration from three years to five.
Columbus charter amendment will appear on some ballots
Some voters in southern Delaware County who live within Columbus city limits will also see a charter amendment related to community crisis response services.
The proposed amendment would establish a system designed to respond to certain emergency and non-emergency calls with unarmed personnel, rather than traditional police or fire response, when appropriate.
It would also create an advisory board to oversee the program and require ongoing funding for staffing, services and implementation.
The measure applies only to voters within Columbus city limits and will not appear on ballots for residents in other parts of the county.
Voters can check their specific ballot through the Delaware County Board of Elections to see whether the issue applies to them.
