Officers named, budget set

YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities board of directors elected three new officers for 2005.
At a recent meeting, the board also outlined a budget and several funding concerns for the coming year.
Sandee Timmerman was elected president; Frank Santisi, vice president; and Joseph Ignazio, recording secretary. Carole Weimer and Timmerman were sworn in as board members for four-year terms. Santisi wasn't able to attend and will be sworn in at the next regular meeting. The three board members were re-appointed by the Mahoning Country commissioners. Commissioner John McNally IV administered the oath of office to the appointees.
Budget
Also, the board approved the 2005 budget of $25,850,584. The budget includes operating expenses for the county board's adult and children's programs, capital improvements, and debt service for construction projects currently under way at the Habilitation Center at Javit Court in Austintown.
Superintendent Larry Duck said configuring the budget was difficult because it is uncertain if the organization will be receiving a type of Medicaid reimbursement for MRDD services that is scheduled to end June 30. The budget assumes that there would be no funding after that date, Duck said.
The board also approved the 2005 Financial Management Plan, which is a detailed report outlining the county board's financial resources available to operate its programs, review revenue and expense patterns and recommend how to maintain programs with available resources.
Duck said the operating costs from opening the 153 Javit Court center will add operating costs that won't fully hit the budget until 2006. Adjustments must be made throughout to accommodate the additional program cost in addition to the possible loss of the Medicaid funding.