Individuals in the adult program at Wildey Center and Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities staff hang out in the Wildey Cafe Sept. 3. From left are Melinda, Ryan, Lisa Davis, Jimmy, Sharon Woodrow and Dianne.

Individuals in the adult program at Wildey Center and Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities staff hang out in the Wildey Cafe Sept. 3. From left are Melinda, Ryan, Lisa Davis, Jimmy, Sharon Woodrow and Dianne.
By Kristin Rover
Sun staff

The Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities has a .75 mill renewal levy on the ballot this November.

Sharon Woodrow, superintendent of Clermont DD, said the levy funds are essential to provide services that help people with disabilities as well as their families.

“We are not asking for any new money, just for the money we already have,” Woodrow said.

Woodrow said the .75 mill levy was first on the ballot in 2003 and was renewed again in 2007.

Woodrow said the levy will cost a home owner with a house valued at $100,000 approximately $21 per year and a home owner with a house valued at $200,000 approximately $43.

She said the levy generates approximately $2.9 million for Clermont DD, which provides a variety of services for disabled individuals including adult programs, camps, transportation services, and more.

“We serve people from birth to death who have a developmental disability,” Woodrow said. “There are people who if they didn’t have us, they would have no one else in the world.”

Woodrow said they try to get involved with the families of disabled children early on and many times that child will grow up using services at Clermont DD.

She said they serve around 1,500 people each day through their various programs.

“We have grown to 50 percent more than five years ago,” Woodrow said.

Woodrow said Clermont DD is funded by local and state funds as well as several levies and fund-raisers.

“More than half of our funding comes from levies,” Woodrow said.

Woodrow said the board works hard to keep the agency efficient and make financial decisions that will get the most ‘bang for the buck,’ and they partner with many other agencies and organizations to share services and resources.

“We are very careful with this money,” Woodrow said.

She said especially with reductions in state funding, the levy is crucial to providing services at Clermont DD.

“If we don’t pass this we will have to dramatically cut services,” Woodrow said. “If this levy doesn’t pass, those programs go away.”

Lisa Davis, community relations director for Clermont DD, said anyone is welcome to come visit the Wildey Center in Owensville to take a tour and learn more about the agency.

“Anyone can come in, take a tour and ask questions,” Davis said.

She said more information is also available on their website www.clermontdd.org.