ASHLAND — The future of two countywide levies that generate a combined $7.8 million annually will be in the hands of Ashland County voters Nov. 3.
The Ashland County Board of Developmental Disabilities is asking voters to approve a renewal of its 2.1-mill levy, along with a 1-mill increase.
Combined, the three-year, 3.1-mill levy is estimated to collect $4,704,229 annually, according to the county auditor, for the purpose of the operation of Dale-Roy programs and facilities.
If approved, the levy will cost Ashland County homeowners $77 for each $100,000 of the auditor’s market value — commencing in 2027 and first due in calendar year 2028.
The 2.1-mill renewal continues existing services at the rate county homeowners already pay at no additional cost. The only additional ask, 1-mill increase, costs $35 a year per each $100,000 of county auditor’s market value.
This levy is the board’s first request for an increase in approximately 20 years. It serves Ashland County residents with developmental disabilities from a child’s first weeks of life through adulthood.
From birth through age 3, early intervention provides in-home developmental support for infants and toddlers. The board served 114 families in 2025 and has served 117 so far in 2026.
Dale-Roy School, for ages 5 to 21, provides space for children who need more individualized support than a traditional classroom provides. Current enrollment includes 33 students.
The levy provides the local funding that supports its full continuum of services — including early intervention, Dale-Roy School, transition programs at schools across Ashland County and adult services for nearly 400 residents, according to the board.
While the levy rate has stayed flat, the cost of providing services has not, Ken Kelly, Dale-Roy assistant superintendent, told the Ashland County Board of Commissioners earlier in October. The 1-mill increase would provide the funding base needed for the board to sustain its full range of programs
In the late 2000s, the board’s total revenue was $5.8 million ($4 million from tax dollars) and its expenses totaled $5.2 million. Today, the board’s total revenue is $7 million ($5.4 million from tax dollars) and its expenses total $9.2 million — making its current financial situation unsustainable.
“This is not an Ashland problem. These expenses come from the extreme increase in Medicaid waiver dollars,” Kelly said. “That is where we have had to absorb all of those costs.”
Prior to the funding request, the board has made several cost reductions including shared leadership with Wayne County, capacity management at Dale-Roy School, privatized adult programs, lowered administrative costs below 4 percent, shifted from buses to vans for transportation, expanded grant-funded early intervention and reviewed waiver recepients.
January 2028 marks the projected depletion of funds without additional revenue or changes in expenditures, Kelly said. This could lead to:
- Potential reduction to one or two classrooms or closure of Dale-Roy School; students may return to local districts.
- Potential elimination of board-operated transportation.
- Potential downsizing, compounded by uncertainty around long-term grant funding.
- Potential elimination of non-mandated services.
- *Impacts are potential outcomes identified—not finalized service decisions.*
“This is (factoring in) all of our reserves, all of our general funds, everything that we have will be gone by January of 2028,” Kelly said.
Kelly is currently transitioning into the superintendent roll as Ashley nears retirement. He said he is preparing to pivot for all scenarios.
“These are things that as I transition into the role, we will be prepared and ready to pivot for everything that occurs after this general election. I promise you that,” Kelly said. “But it is a very scary time for sure, based on everything that could potentially have a very profound impact around this community.”
For more information regarding the levy, the board has created a site dedicated to answering questions and providing information about the issue.
Human and social services levy renewal
Ashland County voters may also cast their vote on a five-year, 2-mill levy renewal for the benefit of human or social services, more specifically for the purpose of paying operating expenses of the public children services agency and the care and placement costs of children.
The levy also supports the operation of senior citizens’ services and facilities.
Funds generated by the levy are shared equally (50/50) between the Ashland County Council on Aging and Ashland County Department of Job and Family Services.
According to the county auditor, the levy is estimated to generate $3,083,167 annually at a cost to county homeowners of $49 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value.
If approved, the levy would commence in 2026. Collection would first be due in calendar year 2027. As a renewal, this is money that’s already being paid by such a property owner and is not a new tax.
The levy was most recently renewed in November 2021 by a slim margin — with 4,805 (52.94%) voting for and 4,272 (47.06%) against, according to previous Ashland Source reporting.
In July, Ashland County JFS Director Peter Stefaniuk and Sandy Enderby, executive director of the county Council on Aging, spoke to county commissioners about the importance of the levy.
Stefaniuk said in July that his department largely uses its portion of generated levy funds for children in foster care and associated foster care costs. Encouraging numbers have been received since the initial passage of the levy in 2021, he said, including a reduction in the number of children in foster care custody.
“But the cost of care has gone up exponentially. It’s a major issue statewide,” Stefaniuk said in July, estimating to have $2.5 million in costs related to caring for these children.
The tax has also allowed Ashland County JFS to bring its child welfare staff wages up to a comparable level with surrounding counties. Levy funds have also been used to implement a slight increase in the agency foster care per diem costs. Stefaniuk said in July that this increase was long overdue.
After launching its own 0.6-mill levy in 2007 to cover additional costs, the Council on Aging teamed with JFS in 2021 for two reasons: grandparents taking care of grandchildren and communication with adult protective services.
Everyday costs of living and scam prevention assistance are additional issues the agency is trying to combat.
“Our goal is to keep our seniors protected. We want to continue that. We feel the renewal is a good thing for Ashland County (and) for our seniors,” Enderby said in July.
