Voters in Greene County reauthorized three levies that support Children Services, the Council on Aging and the Board of Developmental Disabilities.
The Children Services levy passed Tuesday night with nearly two-thirds of voters saying yes to the renewal (65.1%), according to the unofficial results.
The levy for senior citizens was approved with about 63.5% of the vote. The community developmental disabilities levy was approved with 58.7% of the vote.
These measures represent significant shares of the county agencies’ operating budgets and help support services for seniors and the elderly, children and families and people with disabilities.
The renewal levy for Children Services is 1.5 mills; the Council on Aging’s levy is 1.4 mills and the Board of Development Disabilities’ levy is 3.5 mills.
Renewal levies keep tax millage rates the same.
Children Services levy
Greene County Children Services sought a renewal of its levy for a 10-year period.
The levy previously only lasted five years. This renewal will start next year and will run through 2033.
Revenue from the levy pays for safety programs, like investigations into allegations and cases of abuse or neglect.
The funding also helps pay for programs like foster care, adoption, kinship care and independent living.
The levy costs a homeowner $45 for every $100,000 of home value, according to the Greene County Auditor.
The levy raised nearly $6.3 million for the agency in 2022, accounting for almost half of the Children Services budget.
Senior services levy
The Greene County Council on Aging’s five-year renewal levy has prevailed, which costs a homeowner $42 for every $100,000 of home value.
The levy generates a little less than $6 million annually for the agency. This levy represents 97% of the council’s budget.
Some of the funding goes to nine local senior centers to help pay for operations and provide transportation services for medical appointments for some agencies.
The bulk of the funding goes to the Partners in Care Program, which provides emergency response, home-delivered meals, in-home care, adult day services and other kinds of support.
Developmental Disabilities levy
The Greene County Board of Developmental Disabilities will benefit from the renewal of a five-year renewal levy that would cost a homeowner $94 for every $100,000 of taxable value.
The levy, which will begin in 2025, will collect an estimated $13.6 million for the agency according to the county auditor’s office, and represents 87% of the agency’s budget.
The agency provides support services for children and adults who have developmental disabilities.
The group provides funding and support for vocational services, job placement, adult day services, transportation, respite, residential services, and housing assistance.
The levy first passed in 2004. Since then, the board has seen a 78% increase in its enrollment.
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