Murray Ridge officials warn Issue 11 failure would force school closure, ask Lorain County voters for 0.85‑mill levy

Dr. Amber Fischer, speaking on behalf of the Murray Ridge Levy Committee, asked Lorain County voters to approve Issue 11, a five‑year, 0.85‑mill levy that she said is needed to preserve services for more than 3,000 children and adults served by the Lorain County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Murray Ridge Center). “Without the funding from issue 11, we will be forced to close the Murray Ridge School after the 26 2027 school year,” Fischer said, warning that the loss would end an educational option for students with significant intellectual disabilities and medical needs.

Fischer described the center’s services, including early intervention for infants and toddlers, Murray Ridge School, adult supports, vocational programs, residential care, and a special Olympics program. She said early intervention provides long‑term benefits and yields a strong return on investment for the community. Fischer also said that Murray Ridge has asked for no increases since 2013 despite inflation and that it receives no inside millage, meaning rising property values have not increased taxpayers’ bills for existing levies.

The speaker framed Issue 11 as a minimal request to maintain existing supports: she estimated the levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $30 per year (about 8 cents per day). Fischer urged voters to consider the consequences for vulnerable residents, including the potential loss of early intervention services and emergency supports for those who lose family caregivers. The presentation emphasized that local levy funding supports services not fully covered by state or federal sources.

The next step is the May ballot (the speaker urged voters to support Issue 11). The forum did not record any formal action or vote by the meeting organizers; the levy outcome will be decided by Lorain County voters at the ballot.