Politics

Cincinnati Community Services Levy Referendum to Set Funding for Local Social Programs

Voters will decide on renewal of the five-year levy that supports mental health, housing assistance and job programs used by residents across neighborhoods including Over-the-Rhine and Price Hill.

By Cincinnati Policy Desk · Published July 8, 2026

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Cincinnati Community Services Levy Referendum to Set Funding for Local Social Programs — Photo by Ipshita B / flickr (by)

The November ballot in Cincinnati includes a referendum on renewing the Community Services Levy, a property-tax measure that funds social programs operated by city agencies and nonprofit partners. Passage would maintain current revenue streams for services that reach roughly 12,000 residents each year through counseling, emergency shelter and workforce training.

The measure appears on the ballot after the city council voted in June to place it before voters, citing the end of the current five-year authorization period on December 31. Local budget documents show the levy has supplied about $9.2 million annually in recent years, an amount drawn from a 0.8-mill rate applied to residential and commercial property within city limits.

Services Tied to Specific Neighborhoods

Funds support the Cincinnati Health Department mobile outreach teams that operate weekly clinics in the West End and Bond Hill. Additional allocations go to the Metropolitan Housing Authority for rental assistance vouchers used by households in Hyde Park and Walnut Hills. The legislation states that 40 percent of the proceeds must remain dedicated to mental-health contracts with local providers.

City records indicate the levy also covers operating costs at two daytime resource centers that provide showers, mail services and case management. These centers recorded 48,000 visits in the most recent fiscal year, according to the Department of Community and Economic Development annual report.

Cost to Property Owners and Next Steps

Hamilton County Auditor data show the average single-family home would continue to pay an estimated $28 per year if the levy is renewed at its current rate. The government projects no increase in the millage for the next authorization period.

Ballots will be mailed to registered voters beginning October 10, with in-person early voting available at the Board of Elections downtown office from October 20. Final results are scheduled for certification by December 1.

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