Summit DD’s operating levy makes up more than 80% of the Agency’s revenue. That levy is set to expire on December 31, 2024. To ensure that more than 5,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities continue to receive vital services to ensure their health, safety and ability to live a good life, Summit DD will be putting forth a replacement levy on the November 7, 2023 ballot. This replacement levy will fund essential services and supports from 2025–2030 and will cost homeowners $158 a year per $100,000 of appraised value. Summit DD has not experienced an increase in revenue since 2007 and in that time has increased the number of children and adults served by 30%! A replacement levy will cost homeowners just $3.58 more per month per $100,000 appraised value. This funding will allow Summit DD to support children and adults currently receiving services, along with the expected growth over the next six years.

The voters have asked for a simple explanation of where their money goes. Simply put, your money empowers people of all abilities. You can see how in the infographic below.

How Much Money Does The Levy Raise?

Homeowners with a home valued at $100,000 will pay $158 a year. A replacement levy collects the same millage as the 2007 voted millage, however the rate homeowners pay will be based on home values in November 2023 rather than home values from 2007. It is important to note that the upcoming revaluation of property in Summit County is effective January 2024, property taxes for Summit DD’s levy will be calculated on your CURRENT value for a six year time frame and not your reappraised value. It will fund services for six years from 2025 – 2030. Summit DD has been living on the same millage since 2007 and is serving 30% more children and adults.

Summit DD will raise a total of $66 million from the levy in each of the six years of its funding cycle to support more than 5,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities as well as expected growth in need for services.

Mandated Services

County Boards of Developmental Disabilities are required by Ohio Revised Code to support eligible children and adults with supports to ensure their health and safety. Should the levy fail, the responsibility to provide those services does not go away. Funding would need to be secured from other community sources for mandated services, including:

• Service Coordination to determine eligibility and to coordinate and monitor services for more than 4,000 children and adults.
• More than 1,300 health and safety investigations to protect the health, safety and welfare of eligible individuals.
• Day programs for more than 1,300 adults that include facility-based programs and community employment. 
• Transportation from home to day programs for more than 1,800 adults, 
• Residential support, ranging from in-home support to 24/7 care for more than 1,800 adults, 

Essential Services

Summit DD also invests in services that help people with developmental disabilities live full and equitable lives. Investing in these supports improves outcomes for children and adults with disabilities, including:

• Early Intervention support for more than 700 children and families age 0-6 to help our youngest citizens meet developmental milestones.
• Support for more than 1,700 school-aged children with developmental disabilities to work towards a success transition from school to work.
• Support for people with complex needs, more than 1,300 people with a coexisting mental health diagnosis along with a developmental disability.
• Enhancing support to connect more than 2,600 adults to the community. 
• Supporting more than 400 Special Olympic athletes.
• Oversight and support for more than 800 private disability service providers who employ thousands of direct service professionals.

What Happens if the Levy Fails?

If the replacement levy fails, essential services would be discontinued within nine months. Adults who rely on Medicaid funding would lose their local contribution for those funds after one year, putting future federal funding in jeopardy. Those who need future services would need to wait for future funding to become available to get vital services needed to ensure health and safety.

The levy is critical to ensure essential services and supports are in place throughout an individual’s lifetime. You can help educate your friends and neighbors by sharing this post.

Still have questions? Contact Us. Want to get involved in the campaign? Learn more about how you can help.