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Morrow County commissioners approve request to place Board of Developmental Disabilities levy on August special election
Summary
The Morrow County commissioners voted unanimously to request that a 3-mill continuing levy for the county Board of Developmental Disabilities be placed on an August special election ballot, with discussion centered on a proposed 0.25-mill reduction and concern that House Bill 28 could remove the option to file a replacement levy after Oct. 1.
Morrow County commissioners voted unanimously April 23 to request a special-election placement in August for a 3-mill continuing levy to fund services provided through the county Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Nancy (last name not specified), a staff member who summarized the levy proposal to the commissioners, said the levy is “a 3 mil continuing levy that is valued at about 1.7 mils.” She also told the board the county intends a 0.25-mill reduction to the replacement language to reflect current property values.
The discussion centered on the timing and the possible effect of state legislation. Nancy told the board that House Bill 28 is “making its way through” the legislature and, based on information the office has received, is expected to be effective Oct. 1. She said that if HB 28 takes effect as expected, local officials would lose the ability to file a replacement levy after that date, which would cause the continuing levy to decline as property values rise and would force the board to seek new levies later.
Why it matters: local levies provide the bulk of funding for county boards that serve people with developmental disabilities. Nancy told commissioners that local tax levies make up roughly 70% of the county board’s local funding used to draw federal and state Medicaid matching dollars that pay for round-the-clock services.
Board history and timing: the levy in question was last passed in 2014. County staff said their original plan had been to place a replacement levy in November with a 0.25-mill reduction; because of HB 28’s anticipated effective date the board instead requested the special August election to preserve the ability to replace the levy before the statutory change takes effect.
Commission action and vote: Commissioner Mason moved to request the special-election placement; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll call: Commissioner Mason — yes; Commissioner Abraham — yes; Commissioner Siegfried — yes.
Next steps: county staff said they will proceed with the special-election process and public education about the levy and the changes to replacement-levy law noted in the meeting.
