Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Regular Board Meeting
May 28, 2026
The regular meeting of the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities was held on May 28, 2026, at the Thomas A Wildey Center, 2040 US Highway 50, Batavia, Ohio 45103.
Vice President David Thamann called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
All present joined in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Janie Pfankuch called the roll. All members were present with the exception of Mrs. Jensen and Mrs. West; both were absent excused. Mrs. Fiscus joined the meeting virtually.
Resolution 26-56
Mr. Weir made a motion seconded by Mr. Thompson to approve the Agenda as presented. Upon roll call, all members voted yea. Motion carried.
Resolution 26-57
Mrs. Eschmann made a motion seconded by Mr. Weir to approve the April 23, 2026, Regular Board Meeting Minutes. All jn favor, aye. All opposed, no. Motion carried.
Resolution 26-58
Mr. Weir made a motion seconded by Mr. Thompson that the Board approve the Operations Report and Payment of Bills. Recap to be made part of the CCBDD Journal. Upon roll call, all members voted yea, with the exception of Mrs. Eschmann, who abstained. Motion carried.
Directors Reports were submitted in the Board Packets.
Superintendent’s Report
Dan thanked the Finance Committee for meeting on May 20, 2026. Judy Eschmann also attended the meeting. Discussion took place on the Financial Statement, Levy Outcome, and Sustainability.
Dan shared with the Board at tonight’s meeting, a copy of OAC rule 5123-4-05; a copy of a blank County Board Financial Sustainability Plan; and an analysis of the results from the Primary ballot for our levy as compared with the Park District; Senior Sewices; and Children’s Sewices results. Dan thanked Lori Watkins for compiling that information. Dan used these documents to walk through the process prescribed to ensure the financial solvency of a county board.
Dan explained, each year by April 1 st Dave Sininger, Director of Busine Operations must submit our five-year agency financial forecast to the State Department of DD. Based on what is submitted, and as prescribed by rule, DD can be categorized into four financial categories; ffhealthy”; “watch”; “warning”; or “emergency”. In most recent submissions DD have moved from healthy to watch, which is what drove us to request being on the ballot for new revenue earlier this month. We are now awaiting an answer from the State Department of DD about what the levy failure earlier in the month did to our category designation. This designation is vety important. If we move into the ‘Warning” category it requires that the Financial Sustainability Plan be completed and shared with the State Department. It also could afford an opportunity for our Board to adopt a resolution to request financial assistance from the State Department
Dan directed the Board’s attention to the Considerations and Opportunities section in the Financial Sustainability Plan. There is a methodology prescribed when county boards face financial risk We checked off the first thing to consider, which is to approach our County Commissioners to advance a new levy for approval by the voters. Unfortunately, that effort failed. Dan shared with the Board; we can go back and try that method again. Dan also shared with the Board was the significant gale force headwinds another attempt faces in November. First, the Children’s Services Renewal Plus levy request that has been on the ballot two consecutive times and has failed, will most assuredly be on the ballot in November as a renewal only levy request, Without its passage, Children’s Services will lose all their levy funding by the end of the year. There will be a lot ofpolitical will and effort used to secure its passage, leaving much less political will that would be directed to an effort for another increase request for our services. That, along with the real and present message being received from local propeHy taxpayers about their lack of support for new taxes bolstered by the current economic conditions facing citizens, Dan’s recommendation that it would be best to forego another new levy attempt in six months
If that option is not pursued, a response from (ii) in the Financial Sustainability document requires reducing costs by restricting expenditures Dan’s recommendation to the Board was to work to make up the financial loss of $1.4 million experienced in calendar year 2025 in the 2027 calendar year budget. By taking this step, it slows the rate with which our deficit is growing, allows us to get on the other side of the upcoming Governors election and new State Budget that will be proposed next yean It also allows us to consider what to do with future levy requests, such as, possibly asking for an increase attached to our five operating levy that is set to expire in 2028, along with seeing if the climate improves from where it is currently.
The Board agreed to foregoing the pursuit of a new levy in November. Dan will communicate to the Board at the June board meeting the plan he is proposing to meet the reduction amount proposed above.
Red, White, and Bloom Event will take place on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from at the Wildey Center.
2026 Board Member Training will take place on Friday, August 21, 2026, from 10a-2p at the Warren County Board of DD-Warren C Young Center.
Resolution 26-59
Mr. Weir made a motion seconded by Mrs. Fiscus that the Board approve the amended 2024-2026 Strategic Plan as presented. Upon roll call, all members voted yea. Motion carried.
Resolution 26-60
Mr. Weir made a motion seconded by Mr. Thompson that the Board authorize the Superintendent to enter into a contract with the License Room and Board providers for the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Upon roll call, all members voted yea, with the exception of Mrs. Eschmann, who abstained. Motion carried
Committee Reports
Resolution 26-61
Mrs. Fiscus made a motion seconded by Mr. Weir to approve the April 23, 2026, Ethics Committee Meeting Minutes. All in favor, aye. All opposed, no. Motion carried.
Resolution 26-62
Mrs. Eschmann made a motion seconded by Mr. Thompson to approve the May 20, 2026, Finance Committee Meeting Minutes. All in favor, aye. All opposed, no. Motion carried.
Unfinished Business — None
New Business — None
Correspondence — None Comments from Board Members — None
Vice President Thamann asked if there were any comments from the audience. No comments were received.
Adjournment
Resolution 26-63
Mr. Weir made a motion seconded by Mr. Thompson that the Clermont County Board of Developmental Disabilities adjourn. Time: 6:24 p.m.
