By WILL SANDERS

OCM News Service

MIAMI COUNTY -  A proposed levy that could drastically impact more than 900 individuals who depend on the services offered by the Miami County Board of Developmental Disabilities gained the favor of voters Tuesday, passing a measure which will remain in effect over the next five years.

Unofficial results showed the MRDD 2.5 mill replacement tax levy for programs and services was approved by the county residents with 60 percent in favor for and 40 percent against, or 6,879 votes for and 4,588 against.

Board Superintendent Karen Mayer said it was “incredibly critical” that the proposal passed in order to provide essential services to the hundreds of individuals in Miami County who have mental retardation and/or other developmental disabilities.

Mayer said she was so grateful and proud of the voters of the county who helped passed the measure.

“The voters of Miami County were willing to support us again and it means so much,” Mayer said. “It will allow us to provide services to 900 people who are Miami County residents so there is a lot of excitement, and gratitude, too.”

For a taxpayer with a home valued at $100,000, the levy will cost about $22.84 per year, or six cents a day. It will represent 40 percent of the organization’s funding with 30 percent coming from both another continuing levy and state and federal funding.

The levy had not been replaced for the last 14 years, and Mayer said it was more important now than ever.

The levy will take begin collection next year and run through the end 2016.

Among just some of the things the levy will help pay for are: 377 children and 323 adults who receive day, evening and weekend services; 320 people who receive residential support; 180 individuals who are transported to and from Riverside buildings; and 407 people who receive ancillary services such as speech, occupational and physical therapy, nursing and interpreter services.

Mayer welcomes members of the public to come and see what their taxes pay for.

"We encourage everyone to come on a tour so they can see the scope of the work we do," she said.

Call 440-3002 or visit www.riverside.dd.org for more information.