Budget is $143,000 less than last year’s

The 2009 budget takes into account the loss of $350,000 in state subsidy funding.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities has approved a 2009 budget of $27,522,208, a decrease of $143,570 from the 2008 budget of $27,665,778.

The calendar year budget, passed at the board’s December meeting, includes all fund transfers, capital improvements and special grants. The operating budget, which is based upon current year revenue for 2009, is $24,419,975, said MRDD Superintendent Larry Duck.

Operating revenue for 2009 is projected to be $24.2 million. The operating expense budget for 2008 was $23.6 million, and operating revenue for the year was projected at nearly $24 million, Duck said.

The Mahoning County Board of MRDD operates under a policy of no deficit spending, meaning, Duck said, that annual operating expense budgets cannot exceed current year annual revenue projections.

The superintendent said the 2009 budget takes into account the loss of $350,000 in state subsidy funding that occurred Oct. 1. Further, he said that reports out of the Ohio Department of MRDD are suggesting that state subsidies will be cut an additional 5 percent to 10 percent by July 1.

In anticipation of further cuts, Duck said the board and administrators are looking at every possible way to reduce costs, including not filling some vacant positions and restructuring or eliminating some work assignments. Fuel costs and workers’ compensation and health insurance costs are also areas of concern for next year, he added.

In other action, the board authorized submission of an application to the Federal Transit Authority for a van grant. The board would pay the required 20 percent local funds if the grant were awarded.

The board approved a contract with the NEON organization (Northeast Ohio Network) for 2009. NEON is a regional governmental agency that processes Medicaid payments for MRDD consumers and provider agencies.

County MRDD boards provide local and state funds to NEON that are used as matching funds to draw down federal Medicaid dollars for waivers that are used to pay for residential services and other support services for MRDD clients in their homes and in the community, Duck said.

The board approved an increase in the hourly pay rate for substitute personal service assistants and cooks to $7.50 per hour for each position.

Board President Joseph Ignazio acknowledged outgoing board members Frank Santisi, Sandee Timmerman and Carole Weimer, each of whom served 12 years on the board. Three new board members will be sworn into office at the Jan, 12 board meeting.

The board accepted the 2009 slate of officers presented by the nominating committee: They are: Joseph Ignazio, president; Dawn Burton, vice president; and Dominic Medina, secretary. The election of officers will be conducted during the Jan. 12 organizational meeting at the Bev Road MASCO workshop. The board’s regular meeting follows at 6 p.m.