The story has been updated to add additional information and correct an inaccuracy.
PLAIN TWP. ‒ The Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities will ask voters to approve a permanent 2.65-mill replacement levy that would raise $21.5 million more a year for the agency.
The board voted July 29 to ask the Stark County commissioners to place the measure on the Nov. 4 ballot.
If approved, it would cost a homeowner about $70 more a year for every $100,000 in property evaluation starting in 2026, according to the Stark County Auditor’s Office. The same property owner now pays nearly $23 a year for every $100,000 of evaluation under the three existing continuous levies that would be replaced.
The Stark County commissioners were expected to ask the county auditor to certify how much in revenue the levy increase would generate per year. Stark DD Superintendent William Green told the board he expects the commissioners will vote on Aug. 6, just hours before the state’s ballot filing deadline, to put the issue on the Nov. 4 ballot.
The issue would ask voters to approve consolidating Stark DD’s three permanent levies voters approved in the 1980s, which are 1 mill, 1 mill and 1.5 mills and reduce the total millage by 0.85 mills. That would result in a 2.65-mill levy that’s applied to current, higher property valuations and result in a tax increase that would not expire.
Stark DD raises about $38 million a year from its four levies. That would rise to about $59.5 million in 2026 if voters approve the new tax request.
Green warned the board that new numbers from the state indicate Stark DD faces a $13.3 million deficit by 2028.
Stark DD has been spending more than its revenue since at least 2023. This year, that deficit is expected to be about $14 million. Its reserves are projected to drop to $35.5 million by Dec. 31. Then to $21.9 million by the end of next year and $5 million by the end of 2027.
Stark DD expected to be $2.9 million in the red by 2028. Green thought spending cuts would allow Stark DD to avoid having to request more money from taxpayers for another three years. But the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities told Stark DD that it would have to spend about $34 million from July 2025 to June 2026 for its mandated 35.5% share of Medicaid waiver assistance for 1,944 clients.
Stark DD says the amount it spends on Medicaid waivers has grown from $17.47 million in 2020 to $32.72 million for this calendar year. It was $11.55 million in 2010.
The number of clients with disabilities getting Medicaid waiver assistance has gone up about 10% since 2020. Prior to 2023, the agency spent about 2 to 3% more a year on Medicaid waiver assistance. But with the state legislature mandating a 38% increase to $19 in the hourly rate for providers two years ago, Stark DD is now anticipating having to spend 6% more each year on Medicaid waiver assistance.
Stark DD’s total number of clients has risen from 3,995 to 5,006 since 2020. That figure was 3,185 in 2010.
Green said even if voters approve the increase, Stark DD still has to look at cuts to preschool and school age programs it offers, which it’s not required to provide by law, or other ways to balance the budget. But the tax increase would allow the agency to make more gradual cuts instead of abrupt ones.
“This somewhat gives us time to make incremental decisions to expand the availability of services,” Green told the board. “This is not a cure all.”
Board member Jennifer Moff said that putting the issue on the ballot now would make it more likely to be approved before school districts begin making levy asks in future years.
“We don’t have a specific plan, and we’re really evaluating those (options),” Green said before the meeting about potential cuts to the preschool and school-age programs. “But unfortunately those are the only places where we can make adjustments.”
Stark DD projects that if voters approve the replacement levy in November, it would raise the agency’s reserves to nearly $47 million in 2028.
Stark DD will hold a series of budget dialogues across Stark County in August to share and discuss options with the community.
Stark DD faces budget troubles
A number of factors have squeezed the Stark DD’s budget, which covers 385 employees.
Green said many clients left day programs during the pandemic and now receive more costly services at home.
People with disabilities are living longer and there are a growing number of people who are diagnosed earlier in life. Medicaid waiver recipients are supported for life.
Stark DD is required to provide the non-federal funding, service planning and coordination for home- and community-based services, as well as keep up with monitoring and support for providers.
The agency anticipated deficit spending when voters renewed a levy in 2023. Green said they decided not ask for new money because of the large reserve they had at the time.
But after that renewal, provider rates greatly increased.
“It was the best decision with the information we had,” Green said.
Balancing the budget could include tax hike, cuts to non-mandated services
Stark DD offers a number of community services not mandated by law. Those services are early intervention for infants and toddlers, a preschool program with 80 students (50 with individualized education plans and 30 who are typically developing), specialized school-age program for 82 students ages 6 to 22 and school transportation for the 160 students the agency serves.
If Stark DD makes cuts to its school programs, school districts will have to step in. Public schools are required to, and already do, provide special education.
The agency will be providing more information and soliciting feedback at the upcoming budget forums.
“We’re sharing the story and also making the point that we likely will have to make some changes within services that are not mandated,” Green said.
Attend a Stark DD ‘Together for Tomorrow: Budget Dialogue’
The agency is holding public forums in cities, townships and villages across Stark County. Representatives will discuss the agency’s budget outlook and potential changes to non-mandated services.
Here are the scheduled forums:
Reach Grace at 330-580-8364 or gspringer@gannett.com. Follow her on X @GraceSpringer16.
Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com.
(CORRECTION: If voters approve a proposed 2.65-mill replacement levy, Stark DD’s levies collection would jump from about $38 million to about $59.5 million a year starting in 2026,. The amounts were incorrect when this story first published. 1:55 p.m. July 30.)
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Stark DD board asks Stark commissioners to place tax increase on ballot
Reporting by Grace Springer and Robert Wang, Canton Repository / The Repository
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