The City Commission voted to declare emergency Resolution 6885-25 and proceed with placing a citizen-initiated hospital levy on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot, after a law department presentation and public comment in favor of the measure.

John Musto, presenting the legislation for the law department, summarized the procedural steps: petition signatures were submitted June 25, additional signatures required by the Dayton Charter were collected on Aug. 12, the Montgomery County Board of Elections validated the signatures on Aug. 18, and the county auditor then issued a certificate of valuation required for the tax-levy process. “That was sent over to the board of elections to confirm those signatures,” Musto said, and the city subsequently received the auditor’s certificate needed to proceed to the ballot.

Musto told commissioners the city must accept the auditor’s certificate and pass the resolution at least 60 days before the general election for the measure to appear on the Nov. 4 ballot; the commission declared the matter an emergency and approved the resolution. After the commission called for immediate passage, votes were taken and the resolution was declared passed.

Bishop Richard Cox of the Clergy Community Coalition spoke during public comment in support of the levy. “Our intent of the Clergy Community Coalition was always to work with public officials,” Cox said, adding that a public hospital could “benefit the city of Dayton and for all of those who live, work, and play in this city.” He said the coalition would work on outreach to make sure citizens know they can vote on the measure.

Musto described the legal intersection that shaped the process: the presentation referenced provisions in the Ohio Revised Code covering public hospitals and tax levies and the City of Dayton Charter’s petition and initiative rules. Musto characterized the process as “a little bit of an unusual process” because multiple statutory and charter provisions intersected; he said staff had followed the required steps to obtain validation and the auditor’s certificate.

The commission approved the city manager’s recommendation to accept the county auditor certificate and to proceed, then declared Resolution 6885-25 an emergency for immediate passage. No policy changes beyond placing the question on the ballot were decided at the meeting.

Supporters who addressed the commission urged collaboration between the ballot committee and city officials and said they would continue outreach to inform voters. The resolution triggers standard election preparation steps by the city and county to place the levy question on the Nov. 4 ballot.