Portage County commissioners approve resolution of necessity to pursue new human services levy

Portage County commissioners voted July 17 to adopt a resolution of necessity to place a new additional human services levy before voters, a step that starts the formal process of putting a 0.5-mill measure on the ballot.

Job and Family Services representative Kelly Jo told commissioners the proposed levy would be a new additional tax levy under Ohio law and would fund public assistance, children’s services and adult services including adult protective services and senior programs. "We're seeing an increase in our caseloads in adult protective services," Kelly Jo said, citing an average of 46 adult protective cases in 2024 and about 52 cases so far this year.

Kelly Jo said the county would not move forward with a previously planned child-protective 0.5-mill levy in November if commissioners back the human services levy, and she requested the board approve the resolution of necessity so staff could file to get the measure on the ballot. She described the levy as "new additional" because state statute requires that wording for…