September 22, 2026
Hamilton County Children’s Services Levy with Adam Koehler
Class Description
The proposed children’s services levy would raise the Hamilton County property tax cost from about $82 to about $121 per $100,000 of home value. That’s an increase of roughly $39 a year for existing county taxpayers.
Hamilton County voters will decide the future of the county’s Children’s Services levy in November, 2026, with commissioners placing a four-year, 5.61-mill measure on the ballot. The levy funds Hamilton County Job and Family Services’ child welfare responsibilities, including abuse and neglect investigations, a 24/7 child-protection hotline, emergency placements, foster and kinship care, group-home treatment and family reunification. County officials say demand and costs have increased substantially, with the number of children in JFS care up 19% over four years and out-of-home placement costs rising 92% since the current levy was approved.
The proposed levy would increase the estimated cost to homeowners from about $82 to $121 annually for every $100,000 of home value. The November measure will also appear alongside a separate Cincinnati Public Schools property-tax levy, creating different potential impacts for homeowners depending on where they live. The Children’s Services levy applies county-wide, while the CPS measure applies only within the school district. Inside the CPS district, the two measures would cost an estimated $366 annually per $100,000 of home value if both pass. For a home near Cincinnati’s typical value of $254,955, that amounts to roughly $930 per year across both levies.
The levy has generated debate over both the need for additional funding and the county’s broader budget priorities. Ultimately, voters will consider the Children’s Services levy and the CPS levy as separate ballot questions in November, meaning voters can approve one, both, or neither. This session will provide an opportunity to learn more about this levy and the implications for Hamilton County homeowners.
Speaker Bio
Adam Koehler is a Cincinnati entrepreneur and the founder of Reversed Out, a digital marketing and technology agency based in Covington. He also cofounded The Cincinnati Exchange, a fast-growing local news platform focused on accuracy, transparency, and strengthening civic engagement across the region.
Over the last decade, Adam has helped build and support dozens of local businesses, startups, and community projects — from coworking spaces and media ventures to AI-driven tools that serve publishers and readers. His work centers on restoring trust in local institutions, elevating honest reporting, and creating technology that brings people closer to the news that impacts their lives.
A long-time advocate for regional growth, Adam is deeply involved in Cincinnati’s business and political landscape and is committed to giving residents a stronger voice in how the city moves forward.