Athens County has four levies, Issues 19, 20, 21 and 22, on the ballot for renewal in the November election to support medical treatment, emergency vehicles, senior citizen facilities and children’s services.
A renewal is when a levy is passed again to keep the same tax rate for an initiative and continues for the number of years stated in the levy. Athens County Auditor Jill Davidson said knowing the difference between a renewal and a replacement is important.
“What people don't often understand is they don't know the difference between a renewal and a replacement,” Davidson said. “They don't realize that by replacing a levy, they would be nearly doubling the revenue.”
Davidson also said it is important for people to understand what a mill is. A mill is $1 per $1,000 of assessed value. An assessed value for a person is any property taxable value a person has.
Levy 19
The funds from Levy 19 would support tuberculosis treatment, specifically for tuberculosis clinics and testing.
If renewed, Levy 19 is estimated to collect $213,000 annually from Athens County taxpayers. The rate at which people will be taxed will not exceed 0.3 mills. According to Davidson, for a $100,000 assessed value, a person would be paying $4.
Currently, Davidson anticipates the Board of County Commissioners will not collect the full 0.3 mill amount but a 0.2 mill amount, something done with this levy since 1995.
“(The Board of County Commissioners) want the approved 0.3 in case there is a need,” Davidson said. “They could come back later and increase it, but right now, their intention is to only continue to collect it at 0.2, so it's going to stay at 0.2.”
If the levy passes, the taxes for the renewal will not be collected until 2026. The previous renewal of the levy will be collected for the final time in 2025.
Levy 20
Levy 20 will collect taxes to fund emergency medical services in the county. These funds will be used for the maintenance and operation of emergency vehicles.
It is predicted that the levy will collect $557,000 each year from Athens County residents. This would be done at a rate not exceeding 0.5 mills, meaning it would collect $11 for $100,000 from each person per assessed value.
According to Davidson, this levy was last voted to be renewed in 2018. If renewed, the revenue amount will be increased by $1,000. Davidson said most people misunderstand where tax increase comes from.
“If they vote for a renewal, (the millage) should stay the same,” Davidson said. “The reduction factor will also go up, and their rate will go down to bring the revenue in back to what it should have been.”
If renewed, the Levy 20 collection will begin in 2025 and last five years. Previously, the levy failed in 2023.
Levy 21
Levy 21, up for renewal this year, will provide funding for senior citizen facilities and services. These funds may also support social services, help meet needs and provide housing.
Levy 21 will not tax at a millage above 0.25 mills, meaning for a $100,000 assessed value, a person would be paying $5.
Currently, Davidson estimates Levy 21 will generate $278,000 each year. Davidson said this amount would be increased by $84,000 if the levy was replaced, not renewed.
Last renewed in 2019, the current levy is set to expire at the end of the year. If renewed, taxes for Levy 21 will begin being collected next year for the next five years.
Levy 22
The taxes for Levy 22 will support children’s services and care, helping to prevent children from being abused and neglected. These taxes will also help with children's placement, care and protection.
The millage of the levy is to not exceed three mills, which is less than the maximum 10 mills the county commissioners could ask for. According to Davidson, with a $100,000 assessed value, a person would be paying $60.
This levy was last renewed in 2015. If renewed in the upcoming election, the levy will not begin collecting taxes until 2026. Davidson said the current levy in place for children’s services funding does not expire until 2025.
“(The Board of County Commissioners is) trying to go the voters a year early,” Davidson said. “They can put it on the spring and then put it on the fall. My expectation is they just took out a $13.1 million bond, and they're building a building, so they want to put this on a year early. That way, if it does fail, they have two more chances at the ballot.”
