Levy vote determines future of Lawrence County, Ohio developmental disabilities programs

COALGROVE, Ohio (WOWK) — The outcome of a developmental disability levy on the general election ballot will determine the future of services in Lawrence County, Ohio.

Dylan and Kiley-Brown Markins’ son Wren receives services through the Lawrence County Developmental Disabilities organization.

“Around when Wren was about eight months, he started showing some signs of just some extra sensory needs and just, we needed some help navigating those things,” Kiley says.

Wren receives intervention services, occupational therapy, and physical therapy through Early Intervention, a program designed to help children from 1 to 3 years old.

However, those services could be on the chopping block if a new levy doesn’t pass.

“We are running on the same or actually less dollars than we were back in 2006 because the levy does not keep up with reevaluations,” Lawrence County DD Superintendent Julie Monroe says.

This means when a home is reassessed, the tax rate does not adjust.

For example: a homeowner whose property is assessed at $100,000 pays approximately $70 in taxes to go toward developmental disabilities programs.

This levy would add $87.50 to whatever the owner is paying, totaling around $157.50. This would be a 125% increase.

Monroe says these funds are needed to keep their services are free to help families like the Markins.

“There is a cost that would be associated if we wanted to keep these services through a private organization. It’s also about the students at open door that would potentially have to go back to their home districts, that aren’t necessarily prepared to teach and educate children that have developmental disabilities,” Dylan Markins says.

“There are no more than eight children in a classroom, so you don’t have the disruption of like a typical school. So, it adds a lot of value to their learning experience,” Monroe says.

The future of developmental disability services is now in the hands of voters.