12/29/2025

Defiance commissioners OK second resolution for new DD levy

Todd Helberg

Defiance County commissioners approved a second resolution Monday concerning placement of a new property tax levy for the county’s Developmental Disabilities Board (DD) before voters on the May 5 primary.

The 2-mill, continuing levy for DD operations is expected to generate $2,758,000 per year, if voters approve it next spring, according to the Defiance County Auditor’s Office. The “continuing” status would mean the tax would become permanent and not subject to periodic renewals by voters.

Commissioners had passed a “resolution of necessity” for the ballot issue during their Dec. 8 meeting. This sent the matter to the county auditor’s office to calculate the amount the levy will generate.

The resolution passed Monday authorizes its placement on the May 5 ballot. The deadline to file ballot issues with the county’s board of elections for the spring primary is 4 p.m. on Feb. 4.

The resolution commissioners approved Monday not only notes the amount the levy is expected to generate annually (see above), but also includes what this would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 — $70 each year.

It also explains that the levy’s proceeds would be used for “community developmental disabilities programs and services, including Good Samaritan School, Early Intervention services, adult services, residential services, service coordination and transportation.”

The DD board also has three other permanent levies — 0.85-mill, 1 mill and 1.9 mills — to help support its operating budget which is set at $8,041,500 for 2026.

DD Superintendent Heidi Hull previously had told The Crescent-News that the new levy is the first request of taxpayers for new money since 2010, and is needed to cover rising expenses and “mostly flat” revenues. She said the three existing levies are collecting on property values that were in place when they were approved by voters years ago.

The DD governing board had approved the levy’s submission to commissioners during a meeting in November.