People for MR/DD Services Issue 5

(provided by the Hamilton County Board of MR/DD)

On November 3, 2009, voters will have the opportunity to express continued support for Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities services provided by Hamilton County Board of MR/DD by approving another five-year levy (the first was in 1974.)  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. Services funded through the Hamilton County Board of MR/DD assist individuals with disabilities in achieving their goals and many of them choose to receive their vocational services through Easter Seals WRC, in fact, approximately 25% of Easter Seals WRC funding comes from supporting individuals through this levy.

What Matters Most....

• Since 2004, the number of people served increased 45%, from 5,500 to more than 8,000; Infants and toddlers served increased 307%, from 555 to 2,260 
• Reasons for increases 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; astounding growth in the number of children with autism
• Four adult centers and two schools operated by the Hamilton County Board of MR/DD serve individuals with the most significant disabilities
• Financially supporting dozens of community agencies, the Hamilton County Board of MR/DD leads the state in contracting for services (57% of the bud¬get)
• 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 
• Several performance reviews and audits show that the Hamilton County Board of MR/DD is the best and most efficient county board of MR/ DD in Ohio
• 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

Levy Specifics:

• 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 totals 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.

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