Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the levy?
The levy provides local funding for vital services that help older adults stay healthy, safe, and independent at home. It also helps secure additional state and federal funding for the community.
Is this a tax increase?
No. This issue is a renewal, not a tax increase. It keeps the Senior Services levy in place at the level voters originally approved in 2006 – it generates roughly the same amount of revenue today as it did when it first passed. In Ohio, renewal levies are reduced as property values rise, so they do not automatically collect more from existing property. That’s why the effective rate has fallen over time, from 1.3 mills originally to about 0.76 mills today. In other words, this levy costs less per $100,000 of property value today than it did when voters first approved it.
What does the levy cost a homeowner?
The levy is 1.3 mills. The cost per valuation:
$200,000
$300,000
$26.00
$26.00
$52.00
$78.00
$2.17
$4.33
$6.50
$0.07
$0.14
$0.21
$100,000
$0.07
The levy is 1.3 mills. The cost per valuation:
$100,000
What and who does the levy support?
Levy funding supports essential services that help older adults remain safe, healthy, and independent at home. These services include home-delivered meals, medical transportation, adult day services, in-home care, adult protective services, and other daily supports.
Each year, Clermont Senior Services serves more than 4,000 older adults, many of whom receive more than one service. Most are age 75 or older, live alone, have moderate to low incomes, and have limited or no family support nearby.
Why does this matter to the broader community?
When older adults can remain in their homes with the right support, families experience less stress, caregivers are better able to stay in the workforce, and the community benefits from stronger stability for vulnerable residents. These services also reduce pressure on emergency systems, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.
What is the impact on taxpayers and public resources?
Home-based support is far less expensive than nursing home care. Home-based care typically costs less than $2,000 per year, compared with roughly $6,000 per month for nursing home care. Supporting seniors at home is not only better for quality of life, it is also a more cost-effective use of public resources.
How is the agency funded?
The levy provides more than 75% of Clermont Senior Services resources. Additional funding comes from client contributions, state and federal funds allocated through the region’s Area Agency on Aging, and community or grant support. Because the levy is the required local match for many outside funds, losing the levy would also jeopardize much of that additional funding.
Additionally, more than $0.90 of every levy dollar goes right back into the community to provide services that keep older adults living independently in their own homes.
What happens if the levy does not pass in May 2026?
If the levy does not pass in May 2026, there would be one more opportunity to renew it on the November 2026 ballot. If it were to fail again, levy funding and much of the related matching support would end on December 31, 2026. The result would be the loss of programs and services that thousands of older adults depend on.
Will the need for services continue to grow?
Yes. Clermont County's population age 60 and older grew by more than 63% between 2010 and 2025, and the 85 and older population is projected to grow another 32% between 2030 and 2040. About 12% of older adults have Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, and most of those individuals are still living at home.
The levy provides local funding for vital services that help older adults stay healthy, safe, and independent at home. It also helps secure additional state and federal funding for the community.
What and who does the levy support?
Why does this matter to the broader community?
When older adults can remain in their homes with the right support, families experience less stress, caregivers are better able to stay in the workforce, and the community benefits from stronger stability for vulnerable residents. These services also reduce pressure on emergency systems, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.
What is the impact on taxpayers and public resources?
Home-based support is far less expensive than nursing home care. Home-based care typically costs less than $2,000 per year, compared with roughly $6,000 per month for nursing home care. Supporting seniors at home is not only better for quality of life, it is also a more cost-effective use of public resources.
How is the agency funded?
The levy provides more than 75% of Clermont Senior Services resources. Additional funding comes from client contributions, state and federal funds allocated through the region’s Area Agency on Aging, and community or grant support. Because the levy is the required local match for many outside funds, losing the levy would also jeopardize much of that additional funding.
Additionally, more than $0.90 of every levy dollar goes right back into the community to provide services that keep older adults living independently in their own homes.
What happens if the levy does not pass?
If the levy does not pass in May 2026, there would be one more opportunity to renew it on the November 2026 ballot. If it were to fail again, levy funding and much of the related matching support would end on December 31, 2026. The result would be the loss of programs and services that thousands of older adults depend on.
Will the need for services continue to grow?
Yes. Clermont County's population age 60 and older grew by more than 63% between 2010 and 2025, and the 85 and older population is projected to grow another 32% between 2030 and 2040. About 12% of older adults have Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, and most of those individuals are still living at home.
Levy funding supports essential services that help older adults remain safe, healthy, and independent at home. These services include home-delivered meals, medical transportation, adult day services, in-home care, adult protective services, and other daily supports.
Each year, Clermont Senior Services serves more than 4,000 older adults, many of whom receive more than one service. Most are age 75 or older, live alone, have moderate to low incomes, and have limited or no family support nearby.