Stark Developmental Disabilities will seek levy renewals in 2023
CANTON – The Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities is looking to renew two levies next year that make up about 44% of the agency's budget.
Bill Green, the agency's superintendent, said Stark DD will ask voters to renew 1.4-mill and 1.9-mill levies for five years in 2023.
"It is tantamount to supporting the 3,700 people we do that this levy passes," he said.
Green told the Stark County commissioners during a work session Monday that a five-year renewal would help sustain the agency and "everything we are doing right now."
Property owners are paying $36.8 million this year to help fund the agency through five levies, three of which are permanent.
'Making a difference': Whole Latte Love Cafe has mission of good coffee, employing young adults with disabilities
Commentary: Stark Developmental Disabilities remains trusted partner for thousands
Lisa Parramore, communications manager for Stark DD, said in an email that the agency's 2022 budget is $55 million.
The two levies that will be up for renewal next year generate nearly $24 million.
Stark DD aids people with developmental disabilities and their families through school-age programs, residential support, early intervention and advocacy.
The agency provides services for about 100 students age 6 through 21 at the Rebecca Stallman Southgate School in Canton Township and for 80 preschool-age students at the Eastgate Early Childhood and Family Center in Louisville. It also has two embedded classrooms within Plain Local School District.
Green said Stark DD provides about 100 new people with lifetime support every year.
"Once they get this funding, they have it the rest of their life, as long as they remain eligible for our services," he said.
Stark DD and other county boards required to privatize many services
Green said about 64% of the agency's budget goes toward mandated programs and services.
Roughly 42% ($20.7 million) is directed toward waiver matches for disability services, according to a Stark DD slideshow presentation. Another 22% ($10.7 million) is for service and support administration. Fifteen percent ($7.3 million) covers school-aged children, 9% ($4.4 million) for administration, 8% ($4.2 million) for preschool and 4% ($2.3 million) for early intervention.
The percentage that goes toward waiver matches has increased in recent years. It was 29% in 2017, according to a Stark DD slideshow presentation. The agency expects waiver expenditures to increase by $1.2 million every year.
Green said the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities started requiring county boards to privatize a large sum of their services for adult clients several years ago. This means that instead of providing services itself, Stark DD helps adult clients connect with service providers and contributes the 40% match required by Medicaid to pay for the rest of the services.
"The pressures that we see are really our mandated responsibilities," he said.
Reach Paige at 330-580-8577 or pmbennett@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @paigembenn.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities looks to renew levies
