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Morrow County commissioners vote to seek special August levy election to sustain developmental-disability services
Summary
Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to request a special August election asking voters to replace a 3-mill continuing levy (proposed with a 0.25-mill reduction) that funds services for people with developmental disabilities, citing timing concerns tied to House Bill 28.
Morrow County commissioners on April 23 voted unanimously to request a special election in August to place a replacement levy for the County Board of Developmental Disabilities on the ballot.
Nancy, a county staff member who summarized the levy for the board, said the current levy is “a 3 mil continuing levy that is valued at about 1.7 mils right now.” She told commissioners the board is proposing a replacement levy with a 0.25-mill reduction to preserve funding for 24/7 supports that rely heavily on local levy matches to draw federal Medicaid dollars.
The staff explanation focused on timing driven by state action. “House Bill 28 has been making its way through the state government,” Nancy said, and staff were told the bill could take effect Oct. 1; after that date she said replacement levies could not be filed in the same way, which would force the county to seek alternate timing and could reduce local funding for services.
Nancy outlined the practical impact: local levies provide roughly 60–70% of the county boards’ local funding that leverages state and federal matching. She said the board last passed the levy in 2014 and that a modest reduction of 0.25 mills reflects cash projections while giving time to educate voters about replacement-levy mechanics.
Commissioners made the motion to request the special election and approved it by roll call. The board’s recorded votes were 'Yes' from Mason, Abraham and Siegfried.
Next steps: the board directed staff to proceed with the legal and administrative steps to place the replacement levy on the August special-election ballot and to coordinate voter-notification efforts. The motion as recorded directed county staff to prepare ballot language and associated election paperwork.
The request to proceed with a special-election levy came after a staff presentation; no alternative motions or amendments were recorded during the discussion.
