Dear Families and Friends of Morrow DD,
Important Update!
On October 1, The Ohio Senate voted to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto on replacement levies, aligning with the House’s earlier action this summer. This action restores the “as-enacted” language from the budget bill that was passed in June, eliminating replacement levies effective Jan. 1, 2026. This action means that after Jan 1, 2026, county boards of DD, schools and other governmental entities will no longer be able to put replacement levies on the ballot and will have to seek new levies when cost of living increases make current levies outdated and insufficient. It also means that the Morrow DD replacement levy on the November ballot is the last opportunity Morrow County has to update local funding to the current cost of living for people with developmental disabilities in our county.
Morrow DD has only one levy, a 3-mill continuing levy that was last replaced in 2014. The effective value of this levy has dropped significantly over the years. Morrow DD does not receive additional tax revenue when property values increase. The DD levy can only generate the tax revenue that was approved in 2014. Taxpayers on average pay less for the Morrow DD levy than they did in 2014.
The replacement levy with a 0.25 mill reduction that is on the November ballot will cost taxpayers $96 per year, ($8.00/month or $0.26/day) per $100,000 of a property’s appraised value. Replacing this levy is an increase of $35.16/year, which is less than $2.93 per month or $0.10 per day for every $100,000 of the property’s appraised value.
Levy funds are needed for all services to ensure the health and wellbeing of people with developmental disabilities, their families and neighbors, throughout the county. County boards provide the local matching funds needed for Medicaid services, like the residential, day and transportation services that service providers deliver every day. County boards send local funds to the state to reimburse service providers for the supports they provide. Levy funds are also needed for Early Intervention, supports for children with complex needs, Supported Living for non-Medicaid services, Special Olympics, emergencies involving abuse, neglect, human trafficking, and law enforcement, Family Directed Resources and other community supports.
County boards of DD are not permitted to run levy campaigns directly and must rely on volunteer groups. Morrow Abilities Partners (MAP) is a group of family members and volunteers who promote the social welfare of individuals in Morrow County with developmental disabilities and coordinate Morrow DD levy campaigns. For more information, you can visit their Facebook page.
There are many ways each of us can make a difference and contribute to our community. Please read the enclosed details regarding this levy and share with others. You can use the card as a reminder to vote or pass it on too. If you have questions or want more information, please contact us. You can also find more information on our website, www.MorrowDD.com and can help spread awareness by sharing our Facebook posts.
Respectfully,
Nancy Foglesong Superintendent