Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Developmental Disabilities Fiscal topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities declares fiscal emergency, seeks voter approval of replacement funds
Summary
Board leaders said a combination of increased waiver match costs, provider wage rate increases, post‑COVID service demand and lack of new local levies since 2004 have driven a fiscal emergency; they proposed a general‑purpose replacement levy and asked commissioners to support outreach and advocacy for state systemic change.
The Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities told commissioners it has declared a fiscal emergency as the board projects a sharp rise in waiver‑match liabilities and service costs that outstrip current local revenue.
Superintendent Leanne Emmons and board representatives explained to the commissioners that the board has operated without new voter‑approved levies since 2004 and that a combination of factors has caused strain: (1) the end of temporary COVID-era billing and program changes that masked demand; (2) a large state‑mandated direct support professional (DSP) wage increase that rose provider rates; and (3) rapidly growing enrollment and use of waiver services, including younger children now entering waivers and families bringing complex cases to the county.
Emmons said the board projects that waiver match obligations could consume a large share of the board’s budget next year — projecting that waiver match will be about half of the entire 2026 budget and about 87% of the board’s local collections. She said the board is pursuing a replacement levy and provided commissioners with scenarios (1.85, 1.95 and 2.0 mills) and asked for county support in messaging and outreach. The board singled out the multiplier effect of federal Medicaid dollars but said statewide system design and the FMAP (federal match) create structural constraints that must be addressed in Columbus. Emmons asked commissioners to be advocates at the state level for long‑term solvency.
Operationally, the board said it has already taken local measures: an internal 7% personnel pay reduction and short‑term cuts to local family‑support and early‑intervention contracts contingent on levy outcomes. Emmons stressed that cutting early‑intervention would be counterproductive given published analyses showing early intervention saves much larger sums over a lifetime.
Ending: The board asked commissioners to help with public outreach for the replacement levy and to join state‑level advocacy on Medicaid waiver design and match rates. Commissioners said they would consider interim measures and review the board’s levy scenarios during the county’s budget process.
