Carroll County board reviews key reports and updates

Several reports were presented at the April meeting of the Carroll County Board of Developmental Disabilities, including an update on property tax collections, employee engagement survey results and state funding issues.

Superintendent Matt Campbell reported on attending a Superintendent Executive Committee meeting via Zoom that included a structured discussion and planning session on fiscal sustainability.

Topics discussed included statewide definitions and how to achieve them, how to address hardship funding for county boards requesting assistance from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities, and the long-term sustainability of the county board system.

Campbell told the board Ohio Association of County Boards updates indicated work groups had been identified and had met on all 10 concepts related to fiscal sustainability.

He also reported Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities Director Lyndsay Nash announced the Ohio Individual Service Plan web-based system will end July 1.

“The County Board will keep the OISP on vendor site and forward a copy to DODD upon request only,” Campbell said.

Director of Education Ryan Buck reported the Carroll County Early Intervention program received the highest determination of Meets Requirements in implementing the requirements of Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Buck also reported the management team received and reviewed the 2026 Employee Engagement Survey results and 2025 Employee Engagement Comparison reports as part of the strategic planning process with Mid East Ohio Regional Director of Operations Steve Long.

The 2026 survey showed 48 of 55 employees responded, an 87% participation rate. Thirty-six of 40 questions showed increases in satisfaction scores, while 30 of 40 questions were either at or above the benchmark.

County Board key strengths were identified as work engagement, relationship management, benefits and work environment. Areas to monitor were relationship management and work environment.

Officials said management staff will work further with employees to determine what issues exist regarding relationship management and work environment and then develop a plan to address them.

Business Manager Ray Heaston reported the first-half property tax collection was higher than anticipated, totaling $2,223,941.01, due in part to the board voluntarily holding the main operating levy back by one-half mill.

“The reason for the increase was due to the Rover Pipeline settlement for 2019 that was collected under delinquent funds. Also, auditor and treasurer fees were reduced as well,” Heaston said.

In other action, the board approved payment of March bills in the General Funds account totaling $222,594.76, approved payment of March bills in the Residential Services account totaling $19,518.86, approved the Program Division reports and set the next meeting for May 28 at 5:30 p.m. at the county board office.