Belmont Co. Board of Developmental Disabilities funding safe after hundreds attend meeting
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ST. CLAIRSVILLE - More than 300 community members attended the Belmont County Budget Commission public hearing on Monday morning, as the commission considered reducing funding for the Belmont County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
The funds in question are from a 1.00-mill continuing expense levy approved by Belmont County voters in 1980.
The board decided against reducing the funds.
"What they were trying to do was just withhold our collection on it next year. They have the authority because it’s in law to look at carryover balances so they can make a decision to roll it back so the taxpayers wouldn’t pay on that for the next year," said Gloria Llewellyn, superintendent for the Belmont, Harrison and Noble County Board of Developmental Disabilities. "It’s a very small amount to taxpayers. The money that it collects is around $1.3 million in services for us.”
She added that if you own a home that’s around 1,500 square feet on an acre of property, it would cost the taxpayers $15 per year.
Belmont County Auditor and commission member Cindi Henry said that the decision was made to not reduce funding after hearing the concerns of the board and how it would affect its clients.
"We were never there to disable or harm DD. We’re just doing our job as public servants to check their budget out, discuss what their needs are, and to vote to either take part of the levy off for a year or not," Henry said.
She added that the Budget Commission was contemplating the possibility of reducing the levy back by $1 million a year so that the board could return to its $16 million carryover which is more in line with where the commission believes it should be.
Llewellyn said that she was incredibly thankful for the hundreds that came to show support for the board.
"Our community didn’t want to feel oppressed. They wanted to be heard and they came out to support one another. I mean, you had people with lived experience — parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, people from the school districts, and community members all there," Llewellyn said. "Everyone was showing solidarity. They did not want to see the Budget Commission make this decision to take money away from our revenue."
She added that she was overwhelmed by the amount of support from the community and can’t thank them enough for showing up and voicing their support.
Llewellyn was very pleased with the Budget Commission’s decision and plans to continue to work with it to develop relationships and to work towards common goals.
"That money is just we use it for services and support for people with developmental disabilities. So that means then we don’t have to make another change to services or support, it’s vital to us," Llewellyn said. "Our community came out and it just was such a show of solidarity and advocacy because our services mean something to this community. And people came out to say that to the Budget Commission. It’s one thing to talk about numbers. It’s another thing to talk about people with lived experience."
During the hearing, Llewellyn addressed the committee. She said that she believes that the issue is not simply a budget matter. She said that it is about the services, supports, and opportunities that allow people with disabilities to live safely, develop their talents, and experience the same quality of life that all of us want for ourselves and our loved ones.
Llewellyn added that she is deeply concerned that the commission reducing or eliminating the $1.3 million from the budget will harm some of the most vulnerable members of our community.