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BODD Discusses Long-Term Financial Sustainability and Future Levy Needs 

Board of Developmental Disabilities (BODD) Meeting - September 16, 2026 

Meeting Details: The Board of Developmental Disabilities held a Regular Meeting at 6:00 pm on September 16, 2026 in the Administration Board Room at the Metzenbaum Center at 8200 Cedar Rd., Chesterland, OH 44026. Virtual access was available via Zoom, and the agenda and board materials were provided in advance. For virtual meeting information contact Kellie Tvergyak-Oznowich at ktvergyako@geaugadd.org. This Observer attended in person. 

Public Comment: The Board of Developmental Disabilities has a written public comment policy, first approved by BODD in 2001, and most recently reviewed by the Board in October 2023. See policy here. 

Board Attendance:

• Dave Lair - President 

• Uschy Keiper - Vice President

• Rebecca Bennett - Secretary 

• Martin Miller 

• Dave Welty (absent)

• Tristan Sanchez 

• Bill Mann

Developmental Disabilities Staff: 

• Don Rice - Superintendent 

• Dave Carlson - Assistant Superintendent 

• Rean Davis - Business Operations Director 

• Tami Setlock - Support and Service Administration 

• Richelle Mills - Business Coordinator (via video)

• Meredith Myers - Early Intervention (via video)

• Janice Chesnes - Human Resources

• Megan Thirion - Employment First 

• Kellie Tvergyak-Oznowich - Administrative Assistant

Others Present:

• Sara Clemson - Executive Director, Maple Leaf Community Residences (via video)

• Sally Contizano - Metzenbaum Foundation (via video) 

• Carol Benton - LWV Geauga Observer 

• Judy Majcen - LWV Geauga Observer 

Ethics Council Meeting was convened at 6:00 pm with members Mr. Lair and Ms. Keiper present. Mr. Welty was absent. 

The Council approved minutes from its meeting on June 17, 2026. 

The Council approved direct services agreements for the following: 

• Denise Hagan in an amount not to exceed $3,500 for non-medical transportation (NMT) services and personal care for her daughter.

The Ethics Council Meeting was adjourned at approximately 6:05 pm.

Training Session - Finance 101

Ms. Davis presented training centered around financial issues important to the Board and its review and approval of monthly financial information. 

• Board members’ financial role:

  • Board members’ roles are spelled out in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), Section 5156. The Board is responsible for informed financial decision-making, including budget approval, contracts, staffing, facilities, services and wages.

  • Administration’s responsibility is to provide clear information and data so Board members can make informed decisions.

  • Good communication and clear explanations of financial issues are essential.

• Monthly financial review:

  • Each month, the Board reviews the agency’s financial statements, expenditures and current financial position.

  • Financial statements show: Account and fund descriptions, annual budget, month-to-date activity, year-to-date actuals, remaining budget, percentage of budget used.

  • For expenses, the percentage spent is compared with the percentage of the year completed to monitor whether spending is on pace.

• Understanding the funds:

  • General Fund: Primary operating expenses, such as materials, utilities and software.

  • Residential/Client Services Fund: Expenses directly related to services for individuals served.

  • Capital Fund: Major building and equipment projects.

  • Donation Fund: Funds received through donations.

  • Most revenue flows into the General Fund and is then transferred to other funds as needed.

• Accounts payable and vouchers:

  • The accounts-payable report itemizes every voucher/invoice processed by the agency.

  • Board members have access to this information and can request the detailed report.

  • Voucher approvals organize invoices by fund and authorize the expenditures processed during the month. 

• Financial transactions and purchase orders:

  • Monthly financial transaction resolutions cover payroll, benefits, purchase orders and related encumbrances.

  • New contracts generally result in a purchase order being established.

  • The Board’s approval authorizes these routine financial transactions.

• Appropriation vs. cash transfers:

  • Appropriation transfer: Moves budgeted money between line items within the same fund without increasing the overall approved budget.

  • Cash transfer: Moves money between funds, often from the General Fund to Client Services, Capital or Reserve funds.

  • The Board has authorized administration to make these transfers as long as they remain within the approved budget and are reported back to the Board.

• Supplemental appropriations:

  • A supplemental appropriation is needed when an expense will exceed the currently approved budget.

  • The Board must approve the additional appropriation.

  • Funds must be available before additional money can be appropriated.

• Property-tax levies:

  • County BODD boards operate under fixed-rate levies, meaning levy revenue does not automatically increase when property values rise.

  • Revenue generally remains flat unless there is new construction or other changes to the tax base.

  • Renewals continue existing levy funding; an additional levy provides new revenue and represents an additional tax for property owners if approved by voters.

  • Levy revenue is collected and distributed after the applicable election and collection cycle.

  • Understanding mills: 

    • One mill equals $1 of tax for every $1,000 of taxable value 

    • Ohio property is taxed on its 35% of its assessed value

    • The amount generated by one mill varies by county and changes with the tax base and new construction.

• Budget development:

  • The annual budget considers state and federal mandates, Board and community priorities, local administrative priorities, Medicaid waiver costs, community partnerships, locally funded services, and salaries and benefits.

  • The Board reviews the budget to understand both current needs and longer-term financial pressures.

• Medicaid waiver match:

  • The waiver match is BODD’s share of the cost of Medicaid waiver services and is described as the agency’s largest single expense.

  • The projected waiver match for 2027 is approximately $6.23 million.

• Long-term financial pressure:

  • Medicaid waiver costs have increased significantly over time because of increased service needs, inflation/rate increases and the increasing level of services needed as individuals age.

  • Ms. Davis illustrated how an expense growing at approximately 8% annually could double in about nine years. 

  • The Board was cautioned that even a future levy could eventually be consumed largely by increasing waiver-match costs, leaving less revenue to cover other operating expenses.

• Key takeaway for Board members:

  • The Board’s job is not simply to approve numbers- it is to understand what the numbers mean, ask questions, monitor spending against the budget, and understand the financial implications of Board decisions.

  • Monthly financial reviews provide the information needed to monitor the agency’s financial health and plan for future needs. 

The Board meeting was called to order at approximately 6:50 pm by Mr. Lair.  

Minutes: Minutes for the June 17, 2026 Board Meeting were resubmitted to the Board for approval after it was noticed that one of the motions was missing from the version approved at the July 15, 2026 meeting. These were approved. Minutes for the July 15, 2026 meeting were approved without edits. Minutes can be found on the BODD website here. Observer Note: There was no August Board meeting so there are no August meeting minutes.

The Board took the following actions:

APPROVED - The Board reviewed the July and August financial statements. Ms. Davis reported that both months were routine, with no significant variances to report. Observer Note: Since there was no August Board meeting, two months of financial statements were presented for approval.

APPROVED -  Financial Transactions & Voucher Approvals - The Board approved the July and August purchase orders, financial transactions, and vouchers for the General Operating, Donation, and Residential funds.  

APPROVED - The Board approved the recommendation from the Ethics Council regarding a direct service contract previously reviewed by the Ethics Council above: 

• A locally funded service agreement for non-medical transportation (NMT), homemaker personal care (HPC) and HPC transportation for a family provider. 

APPROVED - The annual 2027 budget. There was no discussion on the 2027 budget.

APPROVED - Locally Funded Services Agreements with:

• LaDawn Nicole Mallory, in an amount of $5,000.00 for HPC, HPC Transportation, & NMT services

• Consumer Support Services Inc., in an amount of $3,500.00 for HPC & HPC Transportation services
  
  

Addendums to the following Locally Funded Services Agreements were approved:

• Access Supportive Actions, in an amount of $45,000.00 for HPC, HPC Transportation, NMT & ADS (Adult Day Services)/Voc Hab (Vocational Habilitation) services

• OHIOGUIDESTONE, in an amount of $25,000.00 for Community Employment services

• Brittany Residential, Inc., in an amount of $15,000.00 for HPC, HPC Transportation & ADS/Vocab services

• The Perfect Choice Residential & Transportation Services LLC., in an amount of $9,000.00 for NMT & ADS/Vocab services

• Heather Mushrush, in an amount of $3,000.00 for NMT services

APPROVED - Changes to the following job description for the Employment First Manager. Mr. Rice explained that the description was updated to better reflect today's actual duties and responsibilities of the position.

APPROVED - Disposal of assets - 2 AED Devices, 2 Dell Laptops, a monitor, an iPhone 16e, and a broken large office shredder.

APPROVED - A change to the Board Policy and Procedure Chapter 4 Early Intervention. Mr. Rice noted that the policy is being revised to reflect the state’s change in oversight from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) to the Ohio Department of Children and Youth Services (DCYS). The change does not affect the policy itself.

The Board received the following status and program reports:

Major Unusual Incidents (MUIs):

• Mr. Rice noted July and August MUI reports were generally consistent with the previous year. One individual died following a choking incident. The death is being investigated to determine whether an underlying medical issue, such as a heart attack, contributed to the incident.

Total Population Served:

• Approximately 1,100 individuals were served in August.

• Student numbers were not included in the July and August totals because schools were closed; these numbers are expected to return in September.

Population & Residential Services: 

• Residential waiver waiting list remained at 9. 

Employment & HR Updates:

• Approximately 192 individuals are currently employed, a number that has remained relatively steady. Employment numbers fluctuate as individuals obtain jobs, retire or leave employment. 

• BODD staffing was stable at 59. 

Early Intervention:

• Approximately 150 children were served during July and August.

• Current enrollment has decreased to approximately 130 children, with participation naturally fluctuating over time.

There was a discussion about the types of residential settings available to the people that BODD serves. Mr. Rice explained the different types and sources as follows:

Residential Services:

• Maple Leaf Community Residences (MLCR): Provides residential homes for individuals served by the Board; approximately 75 people are living in these homes.

• Non-MLCR community residences: Congregate homes where several individuals live together, typically in a home owned or leased by a private landlord.

• Apartments: Smaller residential settings, generally serving one or two individuals.

• Shared/family living: Individuals live in a family or provider’s home, with the family or provider receiving payment for providing support. The provider does not necessarily have to be a relative.

Intermediate Care Facility (ICF):

• The Board’s ICF currently houses 13 individuals.

• The facility has been gradually downsized from approximately 40 residents through an ongoing transition toward community-based living.

• Mr. Rice noted that the ICF model has faced pressure over the years to be reduced or eliminated, but it is not expected to disappear entirely. He explained that some individuals have significant behavioral or safety needs and require specialized residential settings that cannot always be safely provided in community settings.

The Board discussed the following issues: 

• Annual Planning Meeting - Mr. Rice announced the annual planning meeting on October 29, 2026 at the Affelder House and invited the Board members to attend.

• Long-term Financial Relief and Funding Reform

  • The Board discussed the growing financial pressure facing Ohio’s county Boards of Developmental Disabilities as Medicaid waiver costs continue to increase. Using statewide projections, the discussion showed that even with careful control of local expenses, the continued growth of the waiver match could significantly reduce county carryover balances and require additional property-tax levies. A financial model using a 35% carryover threshold was presented as an indicator of when a county may need to seek new levy funding. The projections showed that, without changes to the current system, many Ohio counties could face serious financial challenges over the next decade.

  • Mr. Rice explained that Geauga BODD is most likely to seek a renewal and additional levy funding in 2028 but cautioned that current projections indicate that BODD would have to go to voters for another levy increase in 2034. 

  • The group also discussed a state proposal that would have the state assume 100% of the Medicaid waiver match for counties experiencing financial difficulty. While this could substantially improve the financial outlook for participating counties, it would come with significant changes to how waiver services are administered. County Boards would potentially lose some authority over Service and Support Administration (SSA) functions, including eligibility decisions, assessments, service authorizations and approval of individual service plans. Those responsibilities could shift to the state or regional entities. Board leadership expressed concern about adding layers of bureaucracy and, most importantly, maintaining local relationships and ensuring individuals and families continue to receive responsive, individualized services. 

Mr. Rice stressed the proposal is still in the early stages, with many details yet to be determined, including how services would be administered, the role of regional organizations, funding requirements and the timeline for implementation. The state proposal could represent a major shift in Ohio’s developmental disabilities service system, but it could also provide a potential solution to the long-term financial pressures created by the Medicaid waiver match. Mr. Carlson noted that Ohio is the only state in the Unites States that has county BODDs. All other states organize DD services on a statewide basis, and the state bears 100% of the Medicaid waiver cost. Board members emphasized the importance of remaining engaged in the discussion and ensuring that any future system continues to prioritize the individuals and families receiving services. The Board will continue monitoring the issue as the state develops its proposal and considers how the system might evolve over the coming years.

General Announcements:

Mr. Rice complemented Ms. Clemson on the success of Maple Leaf Community Residences’ recent fundraiser. Reviewer Note: See more about Maple Leaf Community Residences’ September 13, 2026 Phantom of the Opera-themed fundraiser entitled “Phantasmic” here.

Other Business/Comment: Mr. Lair asked if there were any comments from the floor. There were none.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:00 pm.

The next BODD meeting is scheduled for October 21, 2026 at 6:00 pm. 

Minutes when posted are available here: Board Minute Summaries|Geauga County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Observer: Carol Benton

Editor: Rooney Moy

Reviewer: Sarah McGlone

Submitted: September 27, 2026

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