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Butler County’s senior services tax levy – Issue 1 – was approved by 55% of voters on Nov. 4, 2025. The levy was a renewal of the existing 1.3.mil levy and an increase of .7 mil. It was the first time in 20 years Butler County voters were asked to approve an increase in the senior services levy, despite 79% growth in the county’s 60 and older population during the same time period.

The combined levy will cost taxpayers an additional $24.50 per $100,000 of value, for a total cost of $50 per $100,000. The levy will generate $20.2 million annually.

“Everyone who is part of this program is grateful to the voters and taxpayers of Butler County,” said Ken Wilson, chief program officer at Council on Aging. Council on Aging administers the levy via a contract with Butler County Commissioners. “We knew it was a difficult time to ask voters for more money, but a renewal of the existing levy would have required drastic changes to the program, leaving a big gap between the number of people who need help and the number of people we are able to serve.”

The senior services levy provides more than 84% of funding for Butler County ESP, which helped more than 4,000 county residents age 60 and older remain safe and independent in their homes in 2024. ESP helps older adults with activities of daily living, including bathing, cleaning, cooking, and transportation, while also filling gaps in care that may already be provided by family caregivers. 

Since the levy’s last increase in 2005, the number of people age 85 and older in Butler County (those most likely to need care) has increased 52%. As the program’s administrator, Council on Aging has worked hard to keep costs down. Despite 62% inflation during this period, and rising program costs, the cost of care per client in ESP has increased only 18% (or $66) in 20 years.

Since February 2024, enrollment into ESP has been limited to focus on individuals most in need, including cancer and dialysis patients, adult protective cases and a few others. While this has helped to manage costs, it also means hundreds of people who would otherwise have been eligible for the program were turned away during the past year.  

With passage of the levy, enrollment restrictions have been lifted and ESP is beginning to close the gap between the needs of the community and program capacity. By 2030, ESP will be serving nearly 20% more people than it is today. 

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