Mason and Deerfield Township property owners would pay less for senior services than they did five years ago if voters approve a levy renewal headed to the November ballot.

The Warren County Commissioners voted Thursday to support placing the 1.21-mill senior services levy renewal before voters on Tuesday, November 3. The measure would generate approximately $9.1 million annually, according to county estimates, and cost homeowners $22 per $100,000 of market value. When voters last approved the same millage in 2021, it cost $29.93 per $100,000.

The per-household cost dropped because property values have risen countywide since 2021. The millage rate itself is unchanged. The levy earned more than 78% support when it last appeared on the ballot.

Commissioner Dave Young said the renewal aligns with the board's broader push to reduce property tax burdens. In June, the commissioners voted to raise the county sales tax by 0.5% while waiving their own share of property tax.

The levy funds programs managed by the Council on Aging, which contracts with Warren County to serve residents 60 and older. Services include Meals on Wheels, home care assistance, adult day programs, medical transportation, personal emergency alert devices and home modifications. There are no income requirements, though some services carry a co-pay based on income.

Ken Wilson, chief operating and programs officer for the Council on Aging, told commissioners the organization is not requesting additional funding through the renewal.

"We're financially in a very healthy position," Wilson said, noting the organization projects a $3 million fund balance at the end of 2026, roughly a three-month reserve.

Wilson said inflation drove a 21% increase in Meals on Wheels costs between 2021 and 2022, a spike the organization has absorbed within its current budget. That program accounts for 32% of the levy's total expense. But the Council on Aging's five-year plan projects waiting lists for some services by 2031 if it stays within its current budget.

The three commissioners are Tom Grossmann, Shannon Jones and David G. Young. The individual vote breakdown from the July 23 meeting has not yet appeared in the commissioners' published minutes.

Warren County voters, including all Mason and Deerfield Township property owners, will decide on the renewal Tuesday, November 3. Residents with questions can contact the Warren County Commissioners' Office at (513) 695-1250 or [email protected].