Message From The Superintendent - August 2023

Greetings! 

We hope everyone is doing well! Here are the updates.     

On July 19, Portage DD dedicated our Board Room to Bev Puleo. Bev worked with Portage DD for 34 years and, unfortunately, passed away in 2022. We are thankful for the time Bev has dedicated to this agency, our mission, and the people we serve in Portage County. So, we are proud to have named our Board Room the Beverly J Puleo Board Room.   

On the November 2023 ballot, Portage DD will have a renewal levy on the ballot. Portage DD is combining a 2.0 mil (5-year term) and a 0.9 mil levy (10-year term). If the renewal passes, the renewal will be for a ten-year term. There will be no new taxes from this levy.  

Governor DeWine's budget was announced. It was passed that the new average wage for Direct Support Professionals (DSP) will be $18 per hour effective January 1, 2024, and $19 per hour effective July 1, 2024. All Ohio county boards supported the bill by giving the budget an additional dollar per hour. The rest of the increase was from state funding. We understand this change won't remedy the DSP crisis, but we are happy with the change and the opportunity to support the fantastic DSPs in Portage County.

It also was decided that County Boards can hold in-person/virtual meetings. What this means is that some board members will now be able to vote and participate virtually. For this to happen, at least three of the seven board members must be in person. They can only be virtual for half of the board meetings. We have 12 board meetings a year. We will have an effective policy for the board meeting in October 2023.  

Parents of minor children will now be able to be providers of their child (If they have a waiver) if an agency provider hires them. This rule was established during the pandemic and is now permeant.

There is also new board member language to encourage all county boards to have individuals eligible for services to hold one of the seven board positions. The new language will be effective July 1, 2025. Portage DD hopes to have an individual on the board when the next opening happens on January 1, 2025.  

Lastly, We wanted to invite everyone to the 2nd annual Ability Walk and Roll. This event will be Portage DD's first time participating in the event. Click Here to Register Today

Believe in People!

WE ARE HERE FOR YOU.

Sincerely,

John Vennetti