What you need to know about the issues on your ballot for the primary
Between now and May 5, voters have the opportunity to choose which candidates will show up on the November 3 ballot through voting in the already underway, spring primary.
But even if the candidates or parties in question don’t pique interest for voters, there are two levies on the ballot for Lucas County that concern all of its residents.
When voting in the primary, voters will choose a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or an Unaffiliated ballot. Regardless of that choice, Issues 7 and 8 will be on the voter’s ballot, and they pertain to two separate property tax levies.
Issue 7
Exactly how Issue 7 is phrased on the ballot:
“A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage.
An additional tax for the benefit of the County of Lucas for the purpose of the operation of a 9-1-1 system and a countywide public safety communications system, that the county auditor estimates will collect $9,230,891 annually, at a rate not exceeding 0.8 mill for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $28 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value, for five (5) years, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027.
For the tax levy ____
Against the tax levy ____”
This levy was approved to be on the ballot in January 2026 to maintain the 9-1-1 emergency services system.
It is a 0.8 mill tax for each $1 of taxable value, on property.
It is about $28 for each $100,000 of estimated property value within Lucas County.
The levied tax will begin in 2026, it will begin to be collected in 2027 and will last until 2031.
Annually, the levy is estimated to bring in $9,230,891.
Commissioners’ discussion on Issue 7
Commissioners spoke during a board of commissioners meeting on Jan. 13 about adding the 0.8 mill.
Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken spoke openly about his concern about only putting on a 0.7 mill levy, the recommendation from the Sheriff and Technical Committee, and said the 0.8 mill was required.
“The point seven millage would not generate enough money over five years to operate the infrastructure in the system,” he said.
The millage for this levy is based on 2005 property tax values, which was one issue raised by Gerken. It should also be noted that the 0.8 mill levy was recommended by the Levy Review Committee.
Commissioners Lisa Sobecki and Anita Lopez also supported the 0.8 mill levy, and Lopez said she had done so after conversations with Sheriff Mike Navarre and Stacey Mitchell, the executive director of the Lucas County 911 Regional Council of Governments (RCOG), who runs the emergency system.
“The point seven levy request includes making potential cuts, cuts to a very strong system that we have,” Lopez said. “There was a discussion to whether or not we need all the towers in our area, and that is a little scary to me…I surely don’t want to have to consider years later, there’s an emergency out there, and the reception is not good for us to identify and find someone in need.”
Issue 8
Exactly how Issue 8 is phrased on the ballot:
“A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage.
An additional tax for the benefit of the County of Lucas for the purpose of the provision and maintenance of zoological park services and facilities, that the county auditor estimates will collect $10,384,752 annually, at a rate not exceeding 0.9 mill for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $32 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value, for ten (10) years, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027.
For the tax levy ____
Against the tax levy ____”
This levy was approved to be on the ballot in January 2026 to maintain the Toledo Zoo.
It is a 0.9 mill tax for each $1 of taxable value, on property.
It is about $32 for each $100,000 of estimated property value within Lucas County.
The levied tax will begin in 2026, it will begin to be collected in 2027 and will last ten years, 2037.
Annually, the levy is estimated to bring in $10,384,752.
Jeff Sailer, the CEO of the Zoo has said publicly that even though this issue presents as an “additional levy,” it is to replace two other levies that expire at the end of 2026. The new levy begins in 2026, but is not collected until 2027, when the other two expire.
Those old levies were for 1.1 mill and 0.6 mill.
According to Sailer, this new levy hopes to replace both previous levies, reduce the total amount the Toledo Zoo receives from taxpayers and hopefully ween the Zoo off of taxpayer support for operational costs.
The levy represents a $25 million reduction in taxpayer funds over its next ten years, and Sailer said any potentially additional levies would only be for capital projects for the maintenance of historic buildings or expansions.
