MOUNT VERNON — On Wednesday, East Knox superintendent John Marschhausen publicly expressed concerns about the size of the levy voters are being asked to approve for the Knox County Board of MRDD. The MRDD board is requesting passage of a five-year, 2.75-mill new levy to continue to support Knox County residents with MRDD.
Given that the East Knox schools are working to lower people’s taxes, Marschhausen said that “2.75 mills is a huge increase.”
“This 2.75 mills, during a reappraisal year, will really hit home for our citizens,” he said. “It will make it very hard for any local district to pass any new millage for the next several years. I want to support MRDD — I just think a more modest increase would have been the responsible action. MRDD’s own levy flier states they service 350 Knox County residents — this increase amounts to near $10,000 additional per person served.”
Steve Oster, the MRDD superintendent, said it has been almost two decades since MRDD asked voters for new money. Since 1991, the agency has received $16 million in federal funds and $11 million in state funds.
“That meant we didn’t have to go back to the taxpayers,” Oster said. “I think that proves we have been responsible in that we’ve been able get those grants and to go that long without any kind of local tax increase. We use the voters only as a kind of last resort to help support the program. ... We have to be on the ballot. The money is no longer there to support the current structure.
“We did have open public meetings where we discussed 25 different scenarios of funding from 0.5 mill up to 5 mills, and what amount made sense to keep the county board running smoothly. ... When we put together the levy plan, we looked at currently what we’re getting, currently what we’re bringing in from federal and state dollars, minus all the cuts that kept coming, and then what can we do to maintain the system we have. We talked about what [amount] we can survive on, continue to handle some emergencies and keep the doors open. The 2.75 [mills] is the figure everyone agreed on.”
In addition to recent federal cuts which affect the MRDD operating budget, Gov. Strickland has mandated that MRDD boards throughout Ohio reduce expenditures by $17 million this fiscal year. The state MRDD director, according to Oster, said there may be even more cuts coming.
The county board of MRDD supports 350 individuals and their families; that support continues from cradle to grave. While the average cost is around $10,000 per person per year in local funds, individuals with multiple, severe and profound disabilities require a higher level of support. Oster said that higher level of support, provided to 122 Knox County residents, averages $41,000 per year.
MRDD contracts with professionals to provide direct therapy services to children from birth to age 22, early intervention services, socialization, parent training, camps in the summer and family resources; any services a child may need outside of the school setting. The agency also offers an international adoption support group for any families adopting an child from oversees.
The agency contracts out all of the adult services, which Oster said has been cost effective for the taxpayers. In addition, he said, the individuals served love to have the choice of six adult programs.
MRDD also helps families with home modifications, residential placements, in-home care and respite services for caregivers.
Knox County Auditor Margaret Ann Ruhl said the levy, if passed, would generate an additional amount of about $2.8 million per year. There are three current and continuing levies that support MRDD: One 1-mill levy and two at 0.8 mills. The effective rate , Ruhl said, is 1.38 mills. She estimated that would generate about $1,459,100 for the 2008 collection.
