LEBANON — Facing ballooning budget deficits beginning next year, the Warren County Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities board on Thursday heard a plea from administrators to put a 4-mill replacement levy on the November ballot.

        The new levy would replace two existing levies that also total 4 mills. It would generate an additional $6.5 million for MRDD while costing the owner of a $100,000 home about $61 a year in additional taxes, said Megan Manuel, business service director for Warren County MRDD.

        Projections show that without additional money, the agency will have a budget deficit of $125,000 in 2003, but it would swell to $5.9 million by 2004. Without any new money, the deficit would be $20.1 million by 2006.

        The agency has 14 positions that have not been filled because of money woes, administrators said.

        “We are down to the bare bones as far as the operations are concerned,” said John Lazares, superintendent of Warren County MRDD.

        A new levy would allow administrators to fill the open positions and upgrade the agency's operations. It also would make the board more competitive with other school districts for special education teachers.

        The board is expected to decide by May 28 whether to place a levy on the ballot. The proposed levy is expected to carry MRDD for at least five years, administrators said.

        Serving one of the fastest growing counties in Ohio, Warren County MRDD continues to identify an increasing number of children who need services, Mr. Lazares said.

        The MRDD board has been revamped and new leadership installed after a controversy about two years ago in which the agency allegedly overpaid for two houses it bought.

        “I do believe that we've heard many positive comments from people about the turnaround that's happened,” Mr. Lazares said. “I know that there are probably people that have questions about the Warren County MRDD. We're just trying to build the confidence of the people.”

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