Title
To endorse the Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Levy and to encourage the Columbus community to vote for Issue 29 on March 4, 2008.
Body
WHEREAS, the Franklin County Board of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities has a responsibility to provide community based services for children and adults with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the Board provides quality, life-long services to individuals and their families in infant and pre-school classes, schools serving children with multiple handicaps, sheltered workshops, living skills centers serving multiple handicapped adults, and in other support services including the Special Olympics, therapies, service coordination, supported living programs, transportation, and services for senior citizens who have developmental disabilities; and
WHEREAS, many parents, particularly aging parents in their 60s, 70s, or 80s, can no longer independently care for their sons or daughters who have mental retardation or other developmental disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the Board has been responsive to the Columbus community by balancing needs against realistic financial resources and through long term planning; and
WHEREAS, the Board has not been on the ballot for seven years and has fulfilled all previous levy commitments to the community; and
WHEREAS, enrollment is expected to continue to increase at a rate of approximately three percent per year due to factors such as improved medical technology, greater longevity, increased awareness and need, and population growth; and
WHEREAS, the Board also provides funding to many organizations including Children's Hospital, Goodwill Columbus, Nisonger Center at The Ohio State University, Easter Seals, Catholic Social Services, Columbus Jewish Center, Childhood League, and others; and
WHEREAS, the Board proposes to replace two existing levies totaling 3.97 voted mills with a single continuous levy totaling 3.50 mills, and
WHEREAS, a 2.32 mill levy will expire without renewal if this levy passes. The additional cost of this levy to the owner of a $100,000 home is less than one dollar per week; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS: That this Council does hereby endorse the levy of the Board of Mental Retardation and Development Disabilities and encourages the Columbus community to vote for Issue 29 on March 4, 2008.