Cuyahoga Board of Developmental Disabilities likely to seek new levy amid soaring care costs

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cuyahoga County’s Board of Developmental Disabilities is running out of money.

The board operates largely on one 3.9-mill continuous tax levy that voters approved in 2005 on the promise that they wouldn’t be asked for more money until at least 2015. Federal pandemic relief and careful budgeting have allowed the board to extend that promise to 2025, Amber Gibbs, superintendent and CEO, told County Council during a presentation earlier this month.

But now she said those pandemic dollars are ending at a time when costs are rising and tax collections are falling, draining reserves. So, after nearly two decades of stretching its existing levy, the board expects it will need to ask voters for more money within the next two years to sustain services for residents with developm