Mahoning County Board Of Developmental Disabilities
      Also Seeks Permanent Tax
     
      BY JOHN A. DARNELL JR.
      associate editor
      The superintendent of the Boardman Local Schools, as well as the heads of two Mahoning County agencies spoke at the Boardman Civic Association’s Candidates and Issues forum held at Boardman Park in September.
      Chris Neifer, superintendent of Boardman Local Schools, said the local district will have two tax issues on the November general election ballot, a 6-mill, five-year renewal levy; and a 5.9-mill issue that will be on the ballot as a continuing levy that if approved, will be a permanent tax that will not be presented to the electorate again.
      The 6-mill issue was first approved in 1991 and raises about $3.59 million annually, the superintendent said, adding the levy costs $86/year for every $100,000 of property valuation.
      The 5.9-mill levy guarantees funding for current expenses, creating annual revenue of $4.2 million, Neifer said, noting cost of the levy is $102/year for every $100,000 of property valuation.
      Neifer said the local school board okayed the measure as a continuing (permanent) tax “to ensure the long-term financial stability of our local schools.” He said passage of both issues “together” would cost the taxpayer 50-cents-a-day for $100,000 of appraised property value.
      Funding generated from the levies goes towards educational services, utilities, maintenance, transportation of personnel costs, the superintendent said.
      Neifer told the some 100 persons in attendance the local school district “transforms lives through academics, the arts and athletics. That’s something we do every day. I’m proud of our teachers and the work they do every day.”
      Of note, the Boardman Local School System did not form a School Levy Committee for this year’s two issues on the ballot, that include making one renewal issue a permanent tax. It is the first time the system has not formed such a committee, that in the past has helped to engage community members of promoting passage of tax issues.
      Also lacking any publicity is the uncontested race for four members of the school board that will see Victoria Davis, John Landers, Tom Varley and R.Scot Murray on the ballot.
      With Voter Approval MCBDD
      3-Mill Tax Levy Will Be Permanent
      The Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities (MCBDD) will place one renewal issue on the ballot that will be a permanent tax, if approved.
      Bill Whitacre, MCBDD superintendent, said the MCBDD is seeking renewal as a nent tax of a 3-mill issue that generates $1.4 million a year.
      Whitacre said the MCBDD serves some 2000 individuals and their families, including 975 who are on Medicaid waivers that he called “vital and allow for the use of state and federal funds to offset costs. Waiver funds help in providing transportation, bed rentals, adult day programming and some home modifications.”
      The MCBDD superintendent said funds generated from the levy “Allows for individuals to live in the community, fostering a sense of independence and inclusion.”
      1-Mill Senior Levy
      Joe Rossi, of the Direction Home of Eastern Ohio, spoke before the civic association about a 1-mill ‘senior levy.’ The issue was first approved in 2016 and generates about $4.1 million a year.
      “Mahoning County’s senior population is growing rapidly,” Rossi asserted, saying “The need for support is always needed.”
      Rossi said the senior levy “has funded over 830,000 home-delivered meals” and some 400,000 hours of personal care services that includes grooming, bathing, dressing and other hands-on services, as well as “minor home modifications to keep people safe in their homes.”
      Some funds from the senior levy are used for a farmer’s market that provides fresh fruits and vegetables to senior citizens “while helping local farmers,” Rossi said.
      Funds are also used for recreation purposes including “shows that reduce isolation for our seniors,” Rossi said.
      He noted what makes senior programs unique is “that it fills in he gaps for folks who aren’t Medicaid eligible or make a little too much money to have the services they need,” adding “We prevent folks from going into nursing homes.”