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Voter Guide
Primary Election Tuesday, May 7, 2013 
2013 PRIMARY ELECTION
ISSUE 1: PROPOSED TAX LEVY (REPLACEMENT) (A Majority Affirmative Vote Is Necessary For Passage.) A replacement of a tax for the benefit of Lorain County for the purpose of providing facilities, programs and services for Murray Ridge Center by operating Murray Ridge School, workshops, community based employment and residential facilities and making capital improvements on the buildings of Murray Ridge Center for mentally retarded and developmental disabled children and adults at a rate not exceeding 1.6875 mills for each one dollar of tax valuation, which amounts to $0.16875 for each one hundred dollars of tax valuation for 5 years commencing in 2013, first due in calendar year 2014. REASONS FOR THE LEVY REQUEST: Murray Ridge Center’s programs for children are particularly dependent on levy funds, and services for infants and toddlers are funded almost entirely with local levy dollars. Murray Ridge Center’s 1.69 mils levy will expire on December 31, 2013 so this is a replacement with no increase in millage. This levy brings in about 24% of the agency’s funding and, if this funding ends, more than 24% of the services of Murray Ridge will be impacted because local dollars are used to pull in federal Medicaid funds. EARLY INTERVENTION – Through this program, which is funded almost entirely with local levy dollars, skilled professionals help families access resources and use techniques that stimulate the development of infants and toddlers with delays, during the critically important years of birth to three years of age. MURRAY RIDGE SCHOOL – High quality educational services are provided to Lorain County students with significant physical and developmental disabilities, medical needs, and behavioral challenges. ADULT DAY SERVICES – Adult day centers provide critical opportunities for eligible individuals to work, learn, and socialize on a daily basis (Monday – Friday), while providing time for many family caregivers to support their households. SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT – The vocational placement and training services of Murray Ridge Center help hundreds of Lorain County residents with developmental disabilities to earn incomes and participate successfully in the local work force. RESIDENTIAL SETTINGS AND SUPPORTED LIVING – An array of residential options enable Lorain County adults with developmental disabilities to live successfully in a variety of community settings; Murray Ridge must arrange the necessary support when aged caregivers can no longer provide for loved ones with developmental disabilities. FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES – Murray Ridge Center’s Family Support Program makes limited financial assistance available for family caregivers to meet disability-related needs of both children and adults. SERVICE AND SUPPORT ADMINISTRATION (SSA) – Murray Ridge Center’s SSA Department provides service planning and monitoring, information and referral, and linkage of those in need with resources. [This information, slightly edited by the LWVOA, was provided by the Lorain County Board of Mental Retardation.] For more information see www.forissue1.com
ISSUE 2: PROPOSED TAX LEVY (ADDITIONAL) (A Majority Affirmative Vote Is Necessary For Passage.) An additional tax for the benefit of The Lorain County Transit for the purpose of purchasing, acquiring, constructing, enlarging, improving, equipping, repairing, maintaining, or operating, or any combination of the foregoing, a county transit system pursuant to sections 306.01 to 306.13 of the Revised Code, or of making any payment to a Board of County Commissioners operating a transit system or a county transit board pursuant to section 306.06 of the Revised Code at a rate of .04 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.004 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2013, first due in calendar year 2014. REASONS FOR THE LEVY REQUEST: The five-year, 0.4-mill levy,is expected to generate about $250,000 a year costing voters on average about $2 a year. It would be the only dedicated source of funding for the transit system in the county and might be eligible for two to one matching funds. It is the first request in 20 years for transit funding. If successful, the tax would allow a resumption of some of the bus routes cut in the recent past.
ISSUE 3: PROPOSED TAX LEVY (ADDITIONAL) (A Majority Affirmative Vote Is Necessary For Passage.) An additional tax for the benefit of Lorain County for the purpose of criminal justice services for support of the County Sheriff’s Drug Task Force at a rate of 0.08 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.008 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2013, first due in calendar year 2014. REASONS FOR THE LEVY REQUEST: The Lorain County Sheriff’s Drug Task Force is operating from a levy approved in 1982 that is returning much less funding than when instituted plus the increasing number of foreclosures has also decreased the revenue stream. In addition, the number of home foreclosures has also decreased the property tax revenue stream. Of the money generated from this 1982 levy, approximately 1/3 funds the crime lab and 2/3 is left for the Drug Task Force, which brings in less than $350,000 a year. The department has been able to operate over the last 20 years through supplemental Federal Funding, which is decreasing annually and will be less than 50% of what was originally received. They will make it through the end of this year by prudent management of their $1.2 million current allotment and by staff reductions leaving them only one part-time and 6 full time officers to handle complaints throughout the county. Approximately 85% of their investigations and complaints are on prescription drugs and heroin, which have seen greatly increased use in the past few years with a concomitant rise in violent crime. Issue 3 is projected to raise $492,000 per year that will equate to approximately $4 more per year on a $100,000 home. [This information, slightly edited, was provided by the Sheriff’s office.] |