A levy for the Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities last appeared on Logan County ballots 21 years ago in 2005. 

Since then, enrollment for LCBDD services has jumped 27 percent, while operating costs for the LCBDD have risen 46 percent, a number that includes a mandated 30 percent rise in provider rates.  

 In all, the LCBDD more than 700 residents of Logan County, which is more than the total number of students that attend school at Riverside. 

Because of the significant increase in enrollment and the costs for services provided to many of Logan County’s most vulnerable residents over the past 21 years, the LCBDD will be asking voters to approve a 2.75-mill levy for operational costs in the May 5 election, LCBDD Superintendent Krista Oldiges shared.  

“This is just to maintain services,” the superintendent said. “We’re predicting that our enrollment is going to continue to increase like it has. 

“Last year alone, our case management department had about 113 referrals. Our numbers just continue to grow and we’re not seeing an end in sight.” 

The 2.75-mill levy would realize $96 per $100,000 of property value per year or $8 (per $100,000) per month, officials noted.  

The Board of DD has already downsized considerably to save on daily operating costs, Oldiges noted. One of those cost savings was moving its entire operation to the Discovery Center at 1973 W. State Route 47, Bellefontaine.  

In addition to maintaining the Discovery Center, the LCBDD used to share the building next door that now houses Logan County Children’s Services. They also phased out serving meals and converted what was once the Discvoery Center’s kitchen into offices for the case management staff. 

Yet, the LCBDD continues to offer an extensive of number of programs for those with developmental disabilities, serving newborns to adults.  

Its wide range of programs include early intervention for children from birth to the age of three (which also includes children who are born with vision and/or hearing problems); preschool special education for children aged three to five; as well as occupational, physical and speech therapy; provider services for both adult residential and daycare facilities; transportation; behavioral support; nursing intervention; Medicaid Wavier services; case management; Special Olympics and a host of other services. 

In addition, the LCBDD provides special education pre-school services for the Bellefontaine, Benjamin Logan, Indian Lake and Riverside School Districts. 

A common misconception is that the LCBDD limits its services to toddlers and school-aged children. This is not the case, the superintendent noted.  

“We have early intervention services from birth to age three and case management services from age three through adulthood,” Oldiges said.  

“For adults, it can be linkage to employment and residential services, or whatever they need to lead a successful life.”  

Oldiges related that the LCBDD had recently been serving one Logan County resident up until her death at age 83.  

“We serve people throughout their lifetimes.”  

 A failure of the levy would force the LCBDD to make considerable cuts in many of the programs it offers, including pre-school programs. 

“(The LCBDD) will have to decide what non-mandated services to reduce or cut” should the levy fail, Oldiges explained. “Those non-mandated services include pre-school, early intervention and Special Olympics, along with some transportation services.” 

LCBDD currently receives 62 percent of its funding from property taxes, 18 percent from the federal government, 12 percent from the state and eight percent from miscellaneous funding. Those funds have remained relatively flat over the past 21 years, Oldiges said, while enrollment and operating costs for the LCBDD have increased. 

Ohio law established county boards of developmental disabilities in 1967. By law, levies for funding county boards of developmental disabilities are restricted to property taxes,  the superintendent noted. The boards may not seek other types of levy funding, such as income or sales tax levies. 

For those seeking more information on the programs and services offered, the Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities can be reached online at www.logancbdd.org or by phone at (937) 592-0015.