Hamilton County commissioners will vote Aug. 4 on whether to place a children's services levy on the November ballot that could cost Hyde Park and Oakley homeowners more than $1,000 a year in new property taxes.

The vote is scheduled for 10 a.m. at 138 E. Court St., room 605. Commissioners must approve a levy option by 4 p.m. Aug. 5, to meet the ballot deadline.

The stakes are high.

The decision comes after a turbulent week. Commissioner Alicia Reece walked out of a July 28 staff meeting after her proposal to borrow against future stadium sales tax earnings was rejected by county administration, according to WCPO. County attorneys and bond counsel concluded that diverting stadium funds would violate state law.

"If we're going to save the children, we've got to at least get as creative as we do with these stadiums," Reece said at the July 28 meeting, roughly 30 minutes before leaving.

Reece disputed the legal opinion, saying attorneys she consulted argued the bond language leaves room for a portion of the fund to be used for other purposes.

Commissioner Denise Driehaus has asked staff to add a lower-increase, four-year option to Tuesday's agenda. She has indicated support for a 5.61-mill levy, about half the funding the agency says it needs. At a July 31 commission meeting, Driehaus said commissioners need to put a smart, reasonable option on the ballot that can win in November, as reported by Signal Cincinnati.

The county's Tax Levy Review Committee recommends a 6.57-mill levy that would raise $144 million per year, nearly double the current levy's roughly $83 million annual yield. The board has more than a dozen options to consider, ranging from the full recommendation down to lower two-year and four-year alternatives.

What it means for your tax bill

The current levy, approved by voters in 2021 at 4.51 mills, costs homeowners $81.15 per $100,000 of home value. Under the full recommended increase, that jumps to roughly $154 per $100,000. For a homeowner with a $650,000 property, that translates to about $1,000 or more in additional annual taxes from this levy alone.

The children's services levy isn't the only tax question heading to the November ballot. The Cincinnati Public Schools levy is also expected to appear, though its final form has not been confirmed, compounding the potential burden for East Side homeowners who pay both county property taxes and city income taxes.

Why costs are rising

The current levy expires at the end of 2026. Foster care placement costs have risen more than 90% since 2021 and now account for half of all annual levy expenses, according to WVXU. The number of children in care has grown 19% over the same period. The agency's reserve fund has dropped 71%, from $145.8 million in 2021 to $41.9 million in 2025.

Hamilton County Jobs and Family Services has already cut $36 million from its budget. Ohio contributes just 18% of child welfare costs, the second-lowest state share in the nation.

Commission President Stephanie Summerow Dumas said at the July 30 meeting that her goal is to get as much funding to children's services as possible without crushing residents. More than 13,000 children in the county received levy-funded services last year, including abuse investigations, safe shelter and foster care support.

County Administrator Jeff Aluotto has warned that if the levy fails, the county would be legally required to fund children's services from its general fund, where 75% already supports public safety and courts.

The Aug. 4 meeting is open to the public. Residents can check their individual levy cost at the Hamilton County Auditor's website.