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The five-year Hamilton County Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Services Levy, last approved by voters in November 2004, will expire at the end of 2009.
On November 3, 2009, voters will have an opportunity to express continued support for MR/DD services by approving another five-year levy (thefirst was approved in 1974.)
The levy to be voted upon will be a renewal of the current amount of 3.62 mills plus an increase of .51 mills, which total 4.13 mills.
Currently, the owner of a $100,000 home in Hamilton County pays $89.32 a year for this levy. With a small increase, the owner of a $100,000 home will pay an additional $15.12 a year.
About $77.6 million a year will be generated by the levy for services to individuals with developmental disabilities, which is 73% of the agency’s budget. Remaining revenue is from federal and state sources.
More than 8,000 individuals with disabilities rely on this levy for a variety of educational, vocational, residential and other support services to achieve what matters most to them..
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Since 2004, the number of people served increased 44%, from 5,500 to almost 8,000. The number of infants and their families served increased 307%, from 555 to 2,260.
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Reasons include: medical advances are prolonging life and keeping infants alive who wouldn’t have lived a generation ago; aging parents need services for sons and daughters whom they have cared for previously; growth in the number of children with autism has been astounding.
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Four adult centers and two schools operated by the agency serve individuals with the most significant disabilities.
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Financially supporting dozens of community agencies, we lead the state in contracting for services (57%of our budget).
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Stipulations (14) from the 2004 levy review included consolidating three schools into two, stopping preschool services, instituting early retirement incentives, and asking public school districts to share costs of educational services
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Several performance reviews and audits show that our agency is the best and most efficient county board of MR/DD in Ohio.
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Services are critical to more than 8,000 individuals with disabilities and their families who rely on the Hamilton County Board of MR/DD for support to achieve what matters most
Click here to download a PDF version of the levy facts.
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