MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities is asking voters to approve a $4 million renewal levy on the November ballot to continue funding services for more than 1,000 local residents.
Because the measure is a renewal, it will not increase taxes for Marion County residents, who currently pay about $67 annually per $100,000 of home value, according to Nikki Workman of the Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
According to Workman, 83% of the board’s operating revenue goes directly toward local services. The board assists individuals diagnosed before age 22 with qualifying developmental disabilities, providing lifelong care that currently spans from an 8-month-old infant to an 89-year-old resident.
Funding from the levy supports over 50 local service providers—including MARCA, LifeBuilders, Progressive, B.L.E.S., CLE and Wings of an Angel—and helps pay approximately 260 direct support professionals who provide in-home caregiving. The board also funds early intervention for children from birth to age 3, secondary therapies and communication tools for more than 350 school-aged students, job transportation for working adults and local Special Olympics programs.
Special Olympics winter sports—including basketball, swimming and cheerleading—are currently recruiting and are open to any child age 8 or older with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), even if they are not otherwise served by the county board. The board is also planning its annual community prom for March 19, 2027.
Residents seeking financial breakdowns, salary information or answers to questions about the levy can visit the board’s website or Facebook page, or contact the office directly.