Hamilton County commissioners voted to recommend a 38% increase to the children’s services levy for the November ballot. Commissioner Driehaus moved the measure, the chair seconded, and Vice President Reese abstained; an alternate motion for a 10% increase was made but not seconded.

An independent analysis commissioned by Hamilton County found a sharp drawdown of the children's services levy balance in 2024–25 driven by higher out-of-home care and contract-services spending; the presenter recommended closer scrutiny of procurement and delivery processes and further follow-up on drivers.

Interim JFS director John Nelson reported rising placement and staffing costs and the loss of pandemic-era state support have sharply reduced the children's services levy balance; Nelson proposed clinical, programmatic and fund-shift measures to avoid a projected negative balance, prompting commissioners to ask for more detail before finalizing budget transfers.

Board accepted a $15 million supplemental to the children's services levy to cover rising placement costs and approved JFS contract renewals and agreements totaling $8.8 million across youth and independent living services.