The Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities will be on the ballot next month asking for a renewal and increase of a tax levy that supports the agency.
The Delaware County Board of Elections reports the levy is a renewal for 2 mills and an increase of .7 mills. If approved, it will be used for the “purposes of the operation of community developmental disabilities programs and services by the Board of Developmental Disabilities, and for the acquisition, construction, renovation, financing, maintenance, and operation of developmental disabilities facilities,” and it would collect $27,129,584 annually for five years.
The levy currently collects $35.09 per $100,000 in home valuation. If approved, the levy would begin collection in January 2027 and would increase collection by $29.91 per $100,000 for a total of $65 per $100,000 in home valuation.
DCBDD Director Kris Hodge said Tuesday the board uses the funds from the levy to support three key programs: early intervention for children from birth to 2 years old; family support services for ages 3 and up not enrolled on a Medicaid waiver; and for Medicaid waiver services.
Hodge said early intervention helps “turn early concerns into meaningful progress and a stronger start for the future.”
“At the heart of this system is the Core Team Model,” Hodge explained. “Providers (developmental specialist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech/language pathologist or hearing/vision specialist) coach parents and caregivers during everyday activities such as meals, playtime and bedtime routines. This approach recognizes that children learn best from the people they spend the most time with, and that progress happens throughout the day, not just during appointments.”
Hodge said the family support services “provides guidance and limited funding for services that are unavailable from other resources to eligible individuals and families.”
“The goal is simple — reduce barriers and make everyday life more manageable,” Hodge said. “The program is especially important for families who are waiting on long-term Medicaid waiver services.”
Hodge said 77 cents of every dollar of levy funding goes into Medicaid waiver services.
“Medicaid waivers are locally, state, and federally-funded programs that allow people with developmental disabilities to receive services outside of institutional settings,” Hodge said. “Instead of requiring care in a facility, waivers ‘waive’ certain Medicaid rules so individuals can live in the community while still receiving the support they need.”
Hodge said the Medicaid waiver services may include:
All services are based on the individuals’ assessed needs, and Hodge said the DCBDD’s services can mean “everything” to their clients and their families.
“While services focus primarily on meeting people’s assessed needs, they can also change what’s possible by removing barriers,” she said. “Our vision is that all people will live personally-fulfilling lives, and that takes a community where differences are understood, valued and welcomed.”
The board reported its current enrollment in the county is 2,337 people, and the millage increase isn’t necessitated by an increase in enrollment but is driven by a transition in what kind of services are needed. Hodge reported the board served 79% children when the levy was originally passed in 2016 and now serves 68% children.
“One of the biggest cost drivers is a major transition already underway,” Hodge said. “Over the next several years, many children currently receiving services will age into adulthood, and adult services are significantly more intensive and expensive. Even though DCBDD enrolls people on Medicaid waivers, where we contribute approximately 35 cents of each dollar of the cost of services in Medicaid match, adult services often include personal care, transportation, employment support, and residential assistance — supports that require more funding to sustain.”
Hodge explained that on average, a child receiving Medicaid waiver services costs about $33,000 per year, whereas an adult receiving Medicaid waiver services costs about $109,000 per year.
“The proposed increase aims to ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities can continue to live, work, and participate in the community with the supports they need, both now and in the years ahead,” Hodge said.
The DCBDD has a long history of levy approval in Delaware County, which Hodge said reflects that voters have “an understanding of what DCBDD does and why it matters.” Hodge said the board is appreciative of the community’s support in past elections.
“Since being established in statute in 1967, DCBDD has served thousands of people and their families, has built partnerships with providers, employers, and schools, and has maintained a consistent presence in the community,” Hodge said. “We are appreciative for the past support but fully recognize the impact that levies have on county residents. The past support we have had reflects a community that believes that these services are important and are worth sustaining.”
The levy will be on the May 5 ballot. For more information about the board, visit https://www.dcbdd.org/.
For voting information, visit https://vote.delawarecountyohio.gov/.