Pioneer Center will be on the ballot in the Primary Election on May 4, 2010.

After months of deliberations, the Ross County Board of Developmental Disabilities, also known as Pioneer Center, approved placing a 3.8 Replacement Levy on the May 4 ballot. A "replacement levy" is so named because it replaces a levy the public has already approved of: in this case, a 2002 continuing levy. The May 4 ballot issue will also add .8 of a mill to bring in an increased revenue of $1.402,598.

The annual increased cost of this Levy to a homeowner with a house valued at $100,000 will be $40.95, or less than $4.00 a month.

The DD Board in its decision to place this issue on the ballot listed the following needs:

The increases in ongoing operational costs, including projected increases in enrollment in our Early Childhood and Adult Services;

The need for reducing waiting lists for residential supports;

The increasing need for services and training for children with Autism;

Continuing the plan of bus replacments (the cost of a new bus is nearly $100,000).

The need to address building and maintenance updates, including our heating system, parking lot, fire alarm system, and outdated bathrooms. Our building is 38 years old.)

The need to increase our Speech Therapy services.