May 7, 2025
By Rachel Scofield

On Tuesday, Fairfield County voters renewed the Fairfield County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Fairfield DD) 1.85-mill property tax levy—an initiative that will ensure critical programs remain fully funded for years to come.

Preliminary results show the issue passed by nearly a two-to-one margin, with 11,281 votes cast.

The estimated annual tax for property owners is $40 per $100,000 of assessed value, continuing a tax they were already paying.

“This renewal will not raise your property taxes or cost you any more than you are already paying. Fairfield DD is raising independence, not taxes,” said Angela Krile, spokesperson for the “Yes for Fairfield DD” campaign.

The levy funds nearly one-third of Fairfield DD’s $22 million operating budget—roughly $7.38 million annually. These funds support nearly 2,000 individuals across the county each year, including operations at Forest Rose School, which serves students with developmental disabilities by providing academics, functional living skills, and work training to promote independence.

Since 2010, Fairfield County has ranked as the fifth fastest-growing county in Ohio. That growth has translated into a 64% increase in individuals served by Fairfield DD since 2015—a number expected to continue rising.