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Information concerning our 2004 levy request is in Portable Document Format
(PDF) and requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have the Adobe
Reader please click on the Get Adobe Reader image on the bottom left of this page and
follow the instructions on your screen to download a free copy.
To download the levy information click the link below:
Greene Co MRDD 2004 Levy Request Information
Frequently asked questions and answers regarding the
mental retardation services levy.
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How much of your budget is spent on administration?
The cost reports the Board of MRDD files with the state of
Ohio reports the General Administration costs as a percent of total costs. A
review of those reports for the past ten years reflects an average
administrative cost of 12.65% annually.
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How does the Board determine who is eligible for behavioral services?
Once individuals have been determined eligible for Board
Services they may access Behavioral Services. Family, staff, the individual,
or other interested party may make a referral. A team will determine the type
of intervention that is appropriate. The types of problematic behaviors that
have been referred to the Board for interventions include: aggression to
people; aggression to property; self-injurious behavior; over activity; temper
outbursts; high levels of impassivity; stealing; sleep problems; bowel,
bladder incontinence. In all situations, strategies, which are the most
positive, are utilized.
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What assurances do we have the Board of MRDD delivers a quality service?
The Board of MRDD and its various programs are reviewed by
a multitude of State agencies such as The Ohio Department of MRDD, The Ohio
Department of Jobs and Family Services, and The Ohio Department of Health and
the Auditor of State. The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation
Facilities also accredits the Board. In May of 2003 The Board received the
highest award issued by The Commission. In a letter to The Board, Brian Boone,
President and CEO said: "...please be advised that the CARF site
surveyors made no recommendations which signifies that they did not identify
any areas of nonconformance with the standards. This is an extraordinary
accomplishment, as only 3% of CARF surveys result in no recommendations".
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It is clear that your agency, by the nature of its mission,
must provide individual services can be quite expensive. Can you give a couple
of examples?
The following examples are factual.
The names have been changed for privacy reasons.
Example#1
Mike is diagnosed with Spastic Cerebral Palsy,
Seizure Disorder, and Scoliosis. Mike is not able to bear weight
and cannot straighten his legs, and needs assistance with all activities of
daily living.
Mike attends an adult day care program. The basic cost for
this service is $16, 500 for 240 days of attendance. This cost includes
nursing and general supervision, and the delivery of habilitation services.
Because of the severity of his disabilities Mike needs two dedicated staff
members for 3 hours a day to assist in toileting, feeding, and repositioning
on his mat. The additional cost for this service is $ 25,632. This is based on
the rates set by the State of Ohio for similar care in a residential facility.
Mikes transportation costs on a handicapped equipped vehicle with vehicle aide
is $7, 395.
The total cost of Mike’s services is $49,527 annually. The
State provides $1,200 towards that cost. The federal Government provides
$28,996. The cost local for Mike is $19,331.
Example#2
Susan has severe mental retardation. In addition, Susan
has gait and mobility problems, and has a history of behavioral outburst and
will kick, hit and throw herself out of her wheelchair. She also needs
assistance in feeding and toileting.
Due to the nature and severity of Susan’s needs she
requires 24 hours per day supervision and assistance with all aspects of daily
living and requires services 24 hours per day in order to assure his health
and safety.
The Ohio Department of MRDD sets the rates for residential
services. The rate for these services is $17.80 per hour for a total of 5,296
hours per year or $94,268. The rate for overnight services is $10.24 per hour
for a total of 2,184 hours per year or $22,364. Mileage reimbursement is
calculated at .38 for 6,000 miles per year or $2,280. The total cost annually
for Susan’s services is $118,912. The Federal Government pays 60% or 71,347 of
the cost while the local Board pays 40% or $47,565.
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You are projecting a significant increase in the cost of programs.
Can you explain why the increase is necessary?
The Board believes it can justify the amount by looking at
two aspects of its operation. The existing programs have grown in an
unprecedented manner. Early Childhood programs have grown by 62% since 1999,
and Adult Services has grown by 35%. Residential Services has grown by 32% and
Family Resource Services has grown by 20%. The growth in these programs are a
result of several factors such as availability, quality, and advances by
medical science that allows individuals with disabilities to live longer lives
into their senior years, and infants to survive pregnancies and thrive even
though they have serious medical issues. In calculating the cost of these
existing services at current enrollment numbers, the Board calculated that it
would require the existing 2.25 mill levy to be replaced and additional 1/2
mills to be asked for.
In addition, the Board determined the following services
would require expansion in order to meet the growing needs of new enrollees,
and those on waiting lists: reduce the residential waiting list by 40
individuals; provide for an additional 200 enrollees to enter programs;
Increase family support services by 331 requests annually; provide an
additional 2,000 units of Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy; provide
for maintenance needs of facilities such as roof’s and HVAC; provide for the
facility and program needs of the seniors and medically fragile individuals;
and establishment of a reserve balance account for emergencies to protect the
health and safety of enrollees. The Board determined these needs would require
additional .75 mills be requested.
There is more specific information in the levy packet
located on this web site, that includes projected costs and specific millage
amounts needed to fund the initiatives listed above.
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How does the Greene County Boards millage compare with others in the Miami Valley?
The Board currently has the lowest voted millage in the
Miami Valley. Even with this additional request we will remain the
lowest taxing Board of MRDD in the Miami Valley. For comparison,
Warren County MRDD has 4 mills, Montgomery County MRDD has 4 mills, Miami
County MRDD has 4.2 mills, and Clark County MRDD has 5.5 mills.
Greene County has 2.25 and would have 3.50 if the voters approve the
levy in November.
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Can you identify any efficiencies you have implemented to improve services or manage costs?
The Board has taken many steps to manage costs. A few are:
- Received $1,234,000 in State funds to open an Early Childhood Center in Fairborn. This grant required no local matching funds.
- Accessed $500,000 in State funds and $261,000 in Block Grants which allowed the housing corporation to purchase 19 homes for individuals with disabilities to live in without using tax money from the Board.
- Maintained a consolidated position of Business Manager and Human Resources Director saving over $75,000 a year in salary and benefits.
The Board has taken many steps to improve services. A few are:
- Established programs with the University of Dayton and Wright State University to provide training opportunities for medical students.
- Opened sites in Beavercreek, Fairborn, and Bellbrook for Early Intervention services.
- Decreased client injuries in the workshop by 4% and successfully completed the Bureau of Workers Compensation Ten-Step Safety Program.
- Implemented behavioral programs with a proactive approach, preventing and maintaining severe behavioral incidents.
A complete listing is available by clicking on the levy information link on this website
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In your levy document you have data based on "requests" and state things
like on page 7, "it is anticipated that 1000 service requests will be met
through the term of this levy." What does the term request mean?
You are referring to the projected service requests for
the Family Support Services program. The use of the word requests may
be a bit misleading, let me explain how the program works. Once a
person has been determined eligible for services through our intake process
there are many program options available. One is Family Support Services.
This programs provides respite care, adaptive equipment, home modifications,
special diets, and other services individualized to each family’s needs.
Ohio regulations do not allow the Board to select who receives this service.
Once an eligible individual makes a request, that request is granted, providing
funds are available. In 2003 we processed approximately 800 requests
with an average cost of $176.00 per request. Keep in mind this program
is capped at $2,500 per family annually so if we have a series of request
which are on the high end, the number of requests we can meet decreases.
We also denied approximately 30 requests per month because we had exhausted
the budget for that month. In projecting service request for the next
five years we added 350 requests a year to capture those requests which we
are currently denying. Using the same cost per request we calculated
an annual cost of $61, 633. This amount translates into about 0.02
mills of 1.25 mills we are requesting.
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How do taxpayers know that only the truly deserving get the needed
services, especially in the more ambiguous areas of behavioral problems
versus the more obvious cases of severe physical and mental conditions.
The State of Ohio has adopted a law and an administrative
rule that governs how eligible individuals access services from County MRDD
Boards. In essence, once an individual has been determined eligible
for services that individual’s service needs must be met regardless of the
severity of the disability. So a County Board cannot include or exclude
anyone based on level of disability. A County Board may establish a
waiting list for services in some circumstances. Those circumstances
could include for example a lack of funds or a lack of space. Currently
the Greene County Board has one waiting list and that is for residential
services and the reason is a lack of funds. Individuals who are on
the waiting list were placed on the list based on the date and time at which
they requested the service. When funds are available staff proceed through the
waiting list in chronological order until an individual accepts the service.
(In some cases, for example, an individual may be looking for a specific
service such as a group home in Xenia, and not one in Fairborn.) To the
individuals and families waiting for services fairness in management of
waiting lists is critical. The integrity of the local system would be
negatively affected if the management of waiting lists for any service were
manipulated to show favor in any way. Please contact us if you would like a
copy of the waiting list rule.
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