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Lorain County Board of Mental Retardation
and Developmental Disabilities
Murray Ridge Center
Issue 13
Fact Sheet
$1.6875 Mil Renewal Levy
March 4, 2008
NO NEW TAXES
What services are provided by Murray Ridge Center?
Murray Ridge Center provides critical lifelong supports to Lorain County citizens with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities through the following programs:
- Early Intervention Services, designed to stimulate the development of children who have, or who are at risk of having, developmental delays from birth to three years of age. In 2007, 623 children were served through this program.
- Preschool Classes, which integrate children with special needs with typically developing peers. In 2007, 78 children were served through this program.
- Murray Ridge School, which meets the unique needs of students with developmental disabilities referred by Lorain County’s school districts. In 2007, 155 students attended classes at the Murray Ridge School.
- Adult Day Services, which provides eligible adults with a variety of habilitative services and vocational choices and training programs in the community and in our work activity centers. In 2007, more than 1,000 adults were served through these programs.
- Group Homes and Supported Living Services, for adults, many of whom require on-going residential support as their family caregivers age. In 2007, nearly 300 adults received services through our residential programs.
- Family Support Services, provide limited assistance to many families who care for an eligible family member at home. In 2007, nearly 600 individuals received assistance through these services.
- Service and Support Administration, which provides information, referral, eligibility determination, and service planning/coordination/monitoring. In 2007, more than 900 individuals received assistance through this service.
How many people currently receive services through Murray Ridge Center?
More than 2,000 people receive services through Murray Ridge Center.
Is anyone waiting for services through Murray Ridge Center?
YES. Currently 412 individuals are on waiting lists for residential support through Murray Ridge Center.
Why is this levy necessary?
This levy was previously passed by the voters, and is expiring this year. The levy needs to be renewed and will not cost any additional money.
Local funding accounts for 55 percent of the Murray Ridge Center’s revenues for services and supports for individuals with MR/DD in Lorain County. Funding from the Ohio Department of MR/DD, the Ohio Department of Education, and the federal Medicaid program is contingent upon having the local levy. If local funding is not provided, state and federal funds are lost.
Additionally, failure to renew the levy would result in inability to plan for the care of more than 140 individuals eligible for County Board services, who are over 45 years old and currently residing with aging caregivers. Many of those individuals will depend upon Murray Ridge to provide ongoing residential services and supervision when their family caregivers are no longer able to care for them.
How much will this levy cost?
This levy will cost the owner of a $100,000 home $33.97 annually, or 9 cents per day.
Will this amount go up as property values rise?
NO. The amount due from homeowners will not change. As property values increase, the “effective milage” of the levy will decrease. In fact, the current effective milage on this 1.6875 mil renewal is 1.1092.
What will happen if this levy fails?
Without renewal of the levy, drastic cuts to approximately one-third (1/3) of Murray Ridge programs will be unavoidable. Furthermore, it will not be possible to meet any growing needs. Children and adults in our county will lose needed services. Aging parents will be left without reassurance as to the future care of their adult child with mental retardation or other developmental disability.
Murray Ridge
Helping People...
Vote FOR Issue13, March 4
1.6875 Mil Renewal Levy
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