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thedarksiren2I have snagged this from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
wraptboy's journal, both because it effects his and my positions as employees at the Cuyahoga County Board of MRDD, but mostly because it has such detrimental effects on the mentally retarded & developmentally disabled population of northeastern OH.
"Well, it happened. There was a meeting last week where I work. Our superintendent/head of the entire Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation laid it out to us clearly that if the levy doesn't pass in November (ALL) the activity centers will close. There have been rumors of this...but he completely substantiated them.
This means, I WILL lose my job if this levy doesn't pass. The levy had ALWAYS passed since the County Board came into existence. It provides over 60% of our operating budget. This County Board is the largest in OH and we serve just shy of 9,000 adults and children. That number has gone up 25% each year. Rarely, if ever, am I political on this LJ. But I'm going to for a minute. Partly because this is personal to my career, and I am VERY worried about the whole thing. Just because it's always passed before doesn't mean it will now considering strange political climate.
More important than my own tie to this issue, I think it will be a catastrophe for Cleveland if this occurs. Almost everyone knows of someone either through friends or family that has Mental Retardation or some form of developmental disability. In the Cleveland area we are the ones that provide services from birth on for these individuals. Early diagnosis, respite, day programming, habilitation, education for families, support administration, speech, OT, PT, job placement and training. Even residential services for over 2,000 people.
Also, the levy isn't asking for more money...it's asking for a continuance of what is already in place. Basically it's a continuing replacement issue that costs 2$ per $100,000 of home value. The state and government match these funds and that's how we operate.
So, please feel more than encouraged to pass this information on if you are in the Cleveland area.
It will be issue 7 on the November 8 election ballot. If you are voting please vote for it, and help anyone who might be affected by this in the Cleveland area to understand this issue.
Specifically, it reads like this:
7 CUYAHOGA COUNTY BOARD OF MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
PROPOSED TAX LEVY (REPLACEMENT) (1434 Precincts)
A replacement of a tax for the benefit of Cuyahoga County for the purpose of the OPERATION OF MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, FINANCING, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATION OF FACILITIES FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES at a rate not exceeding 3.9 mills for each dollar of valuation which amounts to 39 cents for each one-hundred dollars of valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2005, first due in calendar year 2006. "
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass on the information, and urge others to vote in favor of this.
Thanks in advance for your efforts and support of this important issue.
wraptboy's journal, both because it effects his and my positions as employees at the Cuyahoga County Board of MRDD, but mostly because it has such detrimental effects on the mentally retarded & developmentally disabled population of northeastern OH."Well, it happened. There was a meeting last week where I work. Our superintendent/head of the entire Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation laid it out to us clearly that if the levy doesn't pass in November (ALL) the activity centers will close. There have been rumors of this...but he completely substantiated them.
This means, I WILL lose my job if this levy doesn't pass. The levy had ALWAYS passed since the County Board came into existence. It provides over 60% of our operating budget. This County Board is the largest in OH and we serve just shy of 9,000 adults and children. That number has gone up 25% each year. Rarely, if ever, am I political on this LJ. But I'm going to for a minute. Partly because this is personal to my career, and I am VERY worried about the whole thing. Just because it's always passed before doesn't mean it will now considering strange political climate.
More important than my own tie to this issue, I think it will be a catastrophe for Cleveland if this occurs. Almost everyone knows of someone either through friends or family that has Mental Retardation or some form of developmental disability. In the Cleveland area we are the ones that provide services from birth on for these individuals. Early diagnosis, respite, day programming, habilitation, education for families, support administration, speech, OT, PT, job placement and training. Even residential services for over 2,000 people.
Also, the levy isn't asking for more money...it's asking for a continuance of what is already in place. Basically it's a continuing replacement issue that costs 2$ per $100,000 of home value. The state and government match these funds and that's how we operate.
So, please feel more than encouraged to pass this information on if you are in the Cleveland area.
It will be issue 7 on the November 8 election ballot. If you are voting please vote for it, and help anyone who might be affected by this in the Cleveland area to understand this issue.
Specifically, it reads like this:
PROPOSED TAX LEVY (REPLACEMENT) (1434 Precincts)
A replacement of a tax for the benefit of Cuyahoga County for the purpose of the OPERATION OF MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION, FINANCING, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATION OF FACILITIES FOR PERSONS WITH MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES at a rate not exceeding 3.9 mills for each dollar of valuation which amounts to 39 cents for each one-hundred dollars of valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2005, first due in calendar year 2006.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please pass on the information, and urge others to vote in favor of this.
Thanks in advance for your efforts and support of this important issue.
