Disabilities board seeks levy renewal
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STEUBENVILLE -- Each year, the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities provides programs and services to around 500 individuals.
A big reason the agency is able to do that is because of money provided by a couple of levies that, combined, bring in about $4 million each year.
One of those levies -- a 1.7-mill, 10-year issue first passed in the 1990s -- is up for renewal on the Nov. 3 ballot.
“We are supported, in part, by two levies -- a 1.8-mill continuing levy and this 1.7-mill levy,” said Mike Zinno, superintendent of the board. “The 10-year levy is expiring. I am proud that the board has not had to ask for additional taxes since the early 1990s. We take the trust of county residents very seriously, and we will continue to earn that trust every day.”
Zinno explained that the levy up for renewal generates about $2.1 million each year. The cost to property owners is about $27 per year for each $50,000 of taxed value. He added it’s important to remember that since the levy has been renewed a couple of times since it was first passed, the effective residential rate is 0.54 mills.
Homeowners can see for themselves what their actual cost will be by visiting the county auditor’s website, locating the taxable value of their property and multiplying that number by .00054.
Combined, the levies provide more than half of the board’s $7 million budget, Zinno said.
“What’s unique about our program is that we serve basically from birth to adulthood,” he explained. “Part of our program serves individuals who are not cured or recovered, like alcohol abuse or something like that. Many are born with a disability that is not curable, so once they are in our program, they are basically in our program for life. Some need more of our services and some need less.”
Among the services supported by levy funds, and their approximate annual costs, are: Early intervention -- $775,000; Bright Promise programs -- $1,100,000; adult programming -- $1 million; case management and SSA services, intake and eligibility -- $900,000; community employment -- $150,000; and family supports and supportive living -- $400,000.
Included are transportation, adult day services, community in-home supports and respite services. Other funding helps fill in any gaps, Zinno added.
“Throughout Jefferson County, we have individuals living as independently as possible,” he said. “Our job is to ensure they are getting the services they need to continue living that way.
“That might be 24-hour care in a home -- maybe it’s eight hours, but it’s up to us and our case managers to oversee the private providers that are going in and that those individuals are getting what they need to live as independently as they can, with as many hands off as possible. That allows them to live the lives they want to lead.”
The board has proven to be judicious with its money, Zinno said, adding it has not had any kind of an increase in millage or replacements since this levy they are seeking to renew was first passed in the 1990s.
“That was the last new money that this board has had, and I am proud of that,” Zinno said.
There are about 70 people employed in the various departments of the county board, he said. Every one of those departments depends on money generated through the local levies for support.
“Because of the levies, we can continue to provide mandated and non-mandated services,” Zinno explained.
The renewal levy will appear as Issue 8 on the ballot. Early voting is under way in Ohio. Election Day is Nov. 3.