Franklin County commissioners approve mental‑health levy renewal, zoo ballot language and a slate of infrastructure, housing and workforce measures

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners voted July 22 to place a renewed mental‑health and addiction services levy on the Nov. 4 ballot, approve a Columbus Zoo renewal levy and related distribution agreement, and adopt a package of infrastructure, housing and workforce measures.

Zach Teric, director in the Office of Management and Budget, told the board Resolution 552-25 would place a 10‑year renewal levy — 2.85 mills with a 0.5‑mill increase — before voters. He said the county estimates the proposed tax would cost an owner‑occupied homeowner about $68.91 per year for every $100,000 of assessed value if approved. “This is the second of two resolutions required to put the renewal on the ballot,” Teric said; the commission adopted the resolution unanimously.

The board also approved a 10‑year renewal levy for the Columbus Zoo (Resolution 553-25) and a companion three‑party memorandum of agreement among Franklin County, the Columbus Zoological Park Association and the city of Columbus (Resolution 554-25) that would govern how levy proceeds are distributed if voters approve the measure. Angel Muma, senior vice president of finance for the zoo, thanked the county and said levy revenue underwrites daily operations — including care for roughly 6,000 animals — as well as education programs and maintenance of more than 600 acres. “We faced leadership failures, but we’ve taken decisive action to rebuild trust and accountability,” Muma said, listing internal‑control reforms and an anonymous ethics hotline as examples. The MOA was adopted with Commissioner O'Grady recorded as abstaining.

Commissioners also voted to advance several county priorities across departments. The board recognized a $25 million federal BUILD grant for Alum Creek Drive, intended to widen 2.66 miles of roadway, add sidewalks and a shared‑use path, add bus stops and replace bridges over Big Walnut Creek; county engineers said design teams are already engaged. The commission adopted multiple Transit‑Supportive Infrastructure (TSI) plan approvals and right‑of‑way actions for corridors across several townships that will add sidewalks, turn lanes and shared paths funded by OPWC, ODOT and private investment.

On housing, the commission adopted an amendment and assignment to a home loan supporting the Commons at Grant, a 100‑unit affordable housing project. Assistant prosecutor Robin Morehead said the amendment reduces the loan’s interest rate to zero, extends the maturity date to Dec. 31, 2045, requires minimum annual payments of $10,000 and extends affordability covenants tied to low‑income housing tax credits. The board also approved memoranda and grants to support two more affordable developments, including a $3 million county contribution to a 259‑unit Riverside Flats project with 83 income‑restricted units and a $1.35 million grant for an 84‑unit Reserve at Maryland Avenue project; both measures include long‑term affordability commitments and broadband provisions.

Job and Family Services presented an $800,000 subaward to Goodwill Industries for the Roads to Work workforce training program, which provides CDL training, soft‑skills instruction and case management. Richard Crockett of Capital Transportation said 120 participants received CDLs in the most recent period and 90 of those graduates have verified job placements averaging roughly $58,000 annually with benefits. Commissioners discussed prior ARPA funding and the implications of reduced one‑time funding during the coming budget cycle; several said they would press administration staff to consider expanding proven programs in future budgets.

Other adopted measures included grant awards to Franklin Park Conservatory to fund community garden and Teen Corps programs ($315,000), contracts for county facilities and vehicle disposition, multiple sanitary and roadway contract modifications, and a $750,000 grant to Experience Columbus for destination marketing and cultural programming.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 552-25 (mental‑health levy to ballot): adopted (Yes: Boyce, Grady, Cwley) - Resolution 553-25 (Columbus Zoo levy renewal): adopted (Yes: Boyce, O'Grady, Cwley) - Resolution 554-25 (Columbus Zoo three‑party MOA): adopted (O'Grady abstained) - Resolution 595-25 (juvenile court grant, $4,550,556.43): adopted (Boyce noted abstention recorded) - Resolution 572-25 (Commons at Grant home‑loan amendment and assignment): adopted (Boyce abstained) - Resolution 574-25 (Franklin Park Conservatory grants, $315,000): adopted - Resolution 577-25 (Goodwill Roads to Work subaward, $800,000): adopted - Resolution 588-25 and 597-25 (affordable housing MOUs/grants, combined county contributions): adopted - Series of TSI corridor and right‑of‑way resolutions (556–563): adopted

Why it matters

The actions approved July 22 shape the county’s near‑term budget priorities (a major levy for behavioral‑health services and a zoo renewal), advance multi‑million‑dollar transportation projects that will change traffic and pedestrian patterns across Franklin County, and use county funding to preserve or rehabilitate multiple affordable housing complexes. The Roads to Work award and community‑garden investments further the county’s workforce and food‑access strategies required under the Rise Together blueprint.

What’s next

The mental‑health and zoo levies will appear on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot if election certification steps proceed as planned. Projects that require property acquisition or lengthy design (Alum Creek Drive, several TSI corridors, and affordable‑housing construction) will move into design and procurement phases; the board scheduled follow‑up work through the county administration and engineer’s office. The commission convened an executive session at the close of the public meeting to consider personnel matters and potential litigation.