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Butler County board warns of fiscal emergency, seeks two-mill levy; highlights 4,300 served
Summary
Patricia Dawson told Oxford council the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities served about 4,300 people last year, is projecting waiver expenses that will heavily consume levy revenues, and has declared a fiscal emergency ahead of a two-mill levy planned for May.
Patricia Dawson, public relations coordinator for the Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities, told the Oxford City Council on March 10 that the board’s mission is “actively partnering with people to access the world” and described services that run from early intervention through lifetime supports.
Dawson said the board served about 4,300 people across Butler County last year and outlined how services change across life stages, from evidence-based early intervention (ages 0–3) to employment and independent‑living supports. “For every dollar spent on early intervention, $7 in savings is realized in adulthood supports,” she said, citing the conservative estimate used by the board.
Dawson described the board’s funding mix: waiver programs that the board administers are funded roughly 60% by federal sources and about 40% from local property taxes. She told council the board has not passed a levy since 2004, enrollment in waiver‑funded supports has grown sharply and the board declared a fiscal emergency in September after projecting that waiver expenses could exceed revenues by 2027.
To address the shortfall, the board plans to place a two‑mill levy on the May ballot; Dawson gave examples of the levy’s local impact, saying the proposed two mills would cost about $70 per $100,000 of assessed value. She said the board enacted roughly $3.7 million in savings measures, some temporary and some permanent, while preparing for the ballot question.
Council members asked whether the increase in people served reflects higher diagnosis rates, population growth or changes in service models; Dawson said she would follow up to analyze that mix. A council member who identified themself as a professor of speech‑language pathology noted workforce concerns and legislative proposals that could affect students entering therapy professions.
The presentation highlighted local partnerships — including Miami University’s Best Buddies chapter and collaborations with Butler Tech and Metro Parks — and emphasized the county board’s role as the adult protective services agency for people with developmental disabilities in Butler County. Dawson invited collaboration with city staff and local organizations to improve accessibility and supports in Oxford.
The council did not take a vote on the presentation itself; Dawson’s remarks served as information to inform future local budget and community partnership discussions.
