The Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities is asking Stark County voters to approve its 1.6-mill additional levy for disability services.

The agency has seen provider rates increase in recent years and is facing a $13.1 million deficit by 2028 if current spending and revenue trends hold.

If the levy is not approved, cuts to nonmandated programming such as school programs will be necessary and interruptions to services for people with disabilities could become more common.

In addition, the agency is now serving more people with disabilities in Stark County, up from 3,185 in 2010 to 5,006 this year. The number of Medicaid waiver recipients has risen from 969 in 2010 to 1,944 this year. Because of advancements in care, people with disabilities are living longer and getting diag

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