TOLEDO — The Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities is asking voters to approve a new 3-mill continuing levy on the May ballot that would generate an estimated $34.62 million a year, as rising costs outpace the revenue from its three existing property tax levies, The Blade reported Nov. 7.

The board estimates it will spend $77.26 million this year, compared with $55.55 million generated by its three existing levies. The board serves more than 4,000 county residents, providing services including case management, family support and early intervention.

Photo credit: Obedmakolo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. The featured photo shows people with disabilities seated at a community program; it is not a Lucas County photo.

Jordan Burriola, 34, has used board services for 15 years. He spoke in support of the levy before the Citizens Levy Review Committee on Friday, describing how the services taught him everyday skills.

“The services I received have helped me learn how to do things for myself. It has helped me learn important everyday skills, like budgeting my money, making safe decisions, solving problems, and developing independent life skills. These have helped me become more responsible and prepared me for the future,” Burriola told the committee.

His mother, Melissa Mayfield, told the committee that the services have helped her son work toward independence.

“As a parent, one of my greatest hopes has always been that Jordan would have an opportunity to live a fulfilling life, experience independence, find meaningful employment, build friendships, and become an active member of this community,” Mayfield said. “The services Jordan receives through the board have helped make these hopes a reality.”

Michele Myerholtz, superintendent and CEO of the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities, told the committee that rising expenses, particularly the board’s share of Medicaid waiver funding, have put increasing pressure on its budget.

“Our expenses have gone up, particularly our waiver match,” Myerholtz said, referring to the board’s share of funding for services provided to people enrolled in Medicaid waiver programs.

“We don’t get inside millage. We get revenue based on the value of homes the year the levies passed. As costs increase, our revenue is not going up. Our waiver match — the portion we pay for services we are mandated to pay by law — continues to go up an average of 6 to 8 percent every year,” Myerholtz said. “We have been able to make those tax funds work and provide good quality service for a long time. But our required costs have increased. Our revenue has not.”

The board’s three existing levies total 6 mills: 0.2 mills approved in 1977, 4 mills approved in 2008 and 1.8 mills approved in 2013. The additional 3-mill levy would bring the total to 9 mills. The Lucas County disabilities levy would be the board’s fourth levy.

Cutbacks are already under way, including the elimination of 23 positions through attrition — 14 bargaining unit positions and nine management positions — along with hiring and spending controls, the discontinuation of the Bridges and ERN programs, and the consolidation of duties and redistribution of work to preserve essential services, Myerholtz said.

If voters approve the new levy, the board would not have to return to the ballot until 2035, Myerholtz said.

The Citizens Levy Review Committee recommended that the Lucas County commissioners vote at their Nov. 10 meeting to place the additional levy on the May ballot.

“These services are absolutely necessary in our community,” said Candace Buckley, vice chairman of the committee. “We really need these services.”

Committee member Tom Susor said the new levy would be a “tough sell.”

“We currently have 6 mills. The additional levy will make it 9 mills. The services are obviously needed. These are tough times. You’re going to have to seek community support for it,” Susor said. “The preparation you do is going to be essential.”

The funding pressure is not unique to Lucas County. Ohio’s 88 county boards of developmental disabilities serve about 123,000 people, and local levy dollars do not rise automatically with property values, so boards must return to voters to request additional funding, according to the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities. Twelve Ohio counties had developmental disabilities levies on the Nov. 3 ballot.

In Logan County, the developmental disabilities levy failed on Nov. 3, and that board faces further cuts — the same pressure point now facing Lucas County.

Sources: The Blade, via NewsLocker; ElevateDD / Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities.