ElectionsFriday, November 6
Mahoning County voters reject the developmental disabilities levy, and the board weighs its next move
The Daily Youngstown team
If you voted on Issue 4, here's the result: Mahoning County voters rejected the 2.4-mill levy for the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities, 45,783 to 41,639. It would have brought in $15,522,964 a year for five years.
Voters rejected Issue 4, 45,783 to 41,639
Vote count for Issue 4 in Mahoning County
Issue 4: MCBDD 2.4-mill levy
Source: WFMJ
View as table
| Race | Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issue 4: MCBDD 2.4-mill levy | Yes | 41,639 | 47.6% |
| Issue 4: MCBDD 2.4-mill levy | No, won | 45,783 | 52.4% |
Superintendent Bill Whitacre said he's disappointed "first and foremost for the individuals and families we serve." The board's current two-mill levy expires in 2027, so it will either seek a renewal or try again for new money on next year's May primary or November general election ballot.
The levy would have raised $15.5 million a year
- $15.5 million
- would have come in each year
- 2.4 mills
- was the proposed levy rate
- $84
- per $100,000 of home valuation was the cost to homeowners
- 5 years
- was how long the levy would have run
Source: WFMJ
Cuts are on the table. Whitacre said personnel costs are down 15% since 2012, and the board is also considering ending non-mandated programs like Special Olympics and Family Support Services, which pays for things like wheelchair ramps.
- First levy request on the ballot since 2000
- Medicaid match: $15 million to $16 million of an $18 million budget
- Statewide: three of nine new-money DD levies passed