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Disabilities board chief: May need levy in future

LISBON — The head of the Columbiana County Board of Developmental Disabilities wants to talk with county commissioners someday about his organization’s finances in case he needs to ask voters for more tax dollars to fund operations.

BDD Superintendent Bill Devon met with commissioners this week to get their approval for a memorandum of understanding about the BDD turning over operation of the Employment Development Inc.-Central to a private concern. The state is requiring county BDDs to privatize facilities that provide work for mentally handicapped and disabled clients, and the BDD has already privatized its EDI-South facility in Calcutta.

“The last time we had a little bit more bumps in the road … This time all of the parents and employees are more in the loop on what we’re doing,” he said, adding he personally informed the parents this time. “Not everyone likes what’s happening, but they understand why it’s happening.”

After the meeting, Devon told commissioners he would like to meet with them at their convenience sometime this year to talk about the BDD’s new responsibilities as they get out of the direct-care business. These new duties include monitoring of the 10 privately operated sites in the county where the mentally disabled will now work.

Although the BDD is saving money from the elimination of about 30 jobs from closing its EDI facilities, Devon said it is losing $2 million in Medicaid matching funds it receives for providing these services. The BDD is also facing unknown costs as it transitions into its new monitoring responsibilities, which includes helping clients find suitable jobs at these facilities that match their skills. Most of these tasks can be performed by current staff, but Devon said they may need to add some positions.

“Do you see the need for a levy, is that what you are saying?” asked Commissioner Tim Weigle.

Devon said he is crossing his fingers at this point, but it may come to that somewhere down the road, which is why he wants to give commissioners a full briefing on what is going on. If the BDD were to want to put a levy on the ballot, it would have to ask commissioners for permission.

“I think we’ll come out about even … but I may have to create jobs as we go forward,” he said, adding even though they are losing $2 million, the BDD is still required to provide 40 percent Medicaid matching for those clients assigned to the 10 work sites.

The purpose of meeting with commissioners is to provide them with a detailed explanation of where the BDD stands financially and what expenses it may face in the future, Devon said.

“I’m trying to stay off the ballot, but I want to get this information out there so people will not be shocked” should the BDD need to seek a future property tax increase, he said.

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