Officials from the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities told commissioners they have declared a fiscal emergency and will ask voters next year for additional levy authority to sustain services.

Levy options and rationale: Superintendent Leanne Emmons and a community outreach advocate said the board is evaluating replacement and additional levies. The board proposed a range of scenarios — including a 1.85‑mill, 1.95‑mill and a 2.00‑mill option over multiple years — and said it will present exact taxpayer impacts and scenarios to the county and at public forums. Staff emphasized their goal is fiscal sustainability while preserving core early-intervention and family-support programs.

Why the emergency: Emmons said the local match for Medicaid waiver services is rising because service utilization is increasing and because the state raised direct‑service-provider (DSP) rates in recent years. The DD board reported that waiver-match obligations are projected to consume a large share of levy revenue next year: the board said waiver match could be roughly 87% of current levy collections, while waiver-match costs represent about half of the board’s budget. The board also cited carryover erosion, higher health-care and program costs, and increased demand from families for community-based supports.

Program and contracting changes: Emmons said the board has taken cost‑control steps including consolidating buildings, privatizing an adult day center, holding open positions, restricting local contracts and preparing contingency reductions to early-intervention and family-support services if additional funding is not approved. She said the board would prefer not to cut early-intervention services, noting evidence that early supports reduce long-term costs.

Next steps and outreach: The board said it will continue public outreach, coordinate with commissioners on timing and provide cost-per-100,000 taxpayer impact tables at upcoming meetings. Emmons asked commissioners to consider the board’s stewardship and to support public outreach about the levy if the board proceeds to a ballot placement.

Ending: Board leaders asked the commission to help with outreach and to consider interim measures but said the long-run solution will require state policy changes or voter-approved local revenue.