Summary
- Developmental disability services in Cuyahoga County largely depend on levy dollars. Without stable property tax support, services for people with developmental disabilities could be at risk, officials said.
- AI may be able to take some toll off the staff in the cumbersome areas of paperwork. The burnout in this industry is related to cumbersome requirements, not the people served, an official said.
- Officials discussed Medicaid and the impact of stricter federal eligibility requirements for SNAP and Medicaid.
Follow-Up Questions
- What’s the plan if property tax reforms limit or reduce levy funding?
- If property tax revenue collections keep declining, how soon might the board need to ask voters to pass a new levy?
Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities meeting
Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Cuyahoga DD)
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2025
Regular Board Meeting
Location: Donzella Administration Building
1275 Lakeside Ave. East
Cleveland, OH 44114
**Online viewing was available via Zoom, but I attended this meeting in person.**
Get past meeting minutes here: Featured – Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities BoardDocs® Pro
View the full agenda here.
Opening
- Convene: Meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Board President Stephen Scheidt.
- Roll call: All board members were present: Allison Frazier, Mozelle Jackson, Scheidt, Cynthia Schulz, Sara Steimle, Lisa Hunt and Alaina McCruel.
To Learn more about the board members, click here: Leadership & Board | Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Minutes
Resolved that the minutes from the June 26, 2025, regular meeting of the Cuyahoga County Board for Developmental Disabilities be accepted. APPROVED.
Donations
Resolved, that the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities gratefully accepts one monetary donation of $75 and 20 equipment donations of unspecified value to the occupational therapy/physical therapy lending library.
Revenue down for Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Approval of financial statements
Resolved, that the Operating Fund Statement and the Statements of Revenue and Expenditures – Planned and Actual for the year-to-date periods ending June 30, 2025, and July 31, 2025, be accepted and filed for audit; the payment of vouchers for the periods June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2025, and July 1, 2025, to July 31, 2025, be ratified; and that all statements and voucher summaries are made a part of the permanent record of this meeting.
Motion by Scheidt, seconded by Steimle.
Final resolution: Motion approved.
Aye: Frazier, Hunt, Jackson, McCruel, Scheidt, Schulz, Steimle.
Amber Gibbs, superintendent and CEO of Cuyahoga DD, provided the following information: Cuyahoga DD began the month of June with a cash balance opening of about $146 million. The total revenues for the month were about $1.4 million with total expenditures of $5.7 million for a cash balance ending in the month of June of about $141.7 million.
The cash balance for July opening was $141.7 million with total revenues around $1.1 million and total expenditures about $39.7 million for a cash balance ending of $103 million
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Finance update from Gibbs:
- Revenues are down: Levy funding is about 4% under budget in July, and Medicaid-related revenue is also lower than planned.
- Spending is under control: Wages, contracts and other local expenses are running below budget, saving money.
Overall: Expenses are about 5% under budget so far, helping offset lower revenues.
Cuyahoga County developmental disabilities agency in the community
Announcements from Gibbs
- July 18 was Disability Pride Night with the Cleveland Guardians: Disability Awareness | Cleveland Guardians
- Passport to Fun event at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium: This… – Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities | Facebook
- Aug. 7 was a RePlay for Kids event, with another date scheduled for Oct. 14.
- Aug. 14 was the Employee Recognition Brunch at Windows on the River.
- Last week, the Kennedy Center hosted the LEAD Conference in Cleveland
Read more: Leadership Exchange in Arts and Disability Workshops & Conference
Cuyahoga County agency’s revenue relies on property tax revenue
Funding the Future Work Group
Gibbs shared takeaways from a statewide group looking at the long-term funding of DD services: In 2025, Cuyahoga DD depends on property tax levies for nearly 80% of its revenue, but collections are down and future funding is uncertain. With rising costs, competition from other levies, and shrinking reserves, the board may need to seek a new levy within the next two years, Gibbs said.
An official said a huge problem is government bureaucracy, and they asked if AI can help with some of the onerous responsibilities. Gibbs said conversations are being had about that, such as using it for authorizing services.
“The burnout that happens in this field is not related to the people that we serve,” Gibbs said. “It’s related to the inability to serve the people we serve because of the regulations and requirements that we have.”
Board resolutions
New Business
- Renew North Coast Community Homes Property Management Contract
Resolved, that the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities approves hereby and authorizes the Superintendent to enter into a one-year contract renewal with North Coast Community Homes for property management services at 12 unlicensed, waiver-funded homes owned by Cuyahoga DD, for the period beginning October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, for a total estimated cost not to exceed $99,000; and, be it further resolved, that the Superintendent is authorized hereby to take any and all actions necessary to carry out these transactions.
Motion by Lisa Hunt, second by Alaina McCruel. Final resolution: Motion approved.
Aye: Frazier, Hunt, Jackson, McCruel, Scheidt, Schulz, Steimle
- Renew Vocational Rehabilitation Services Agreements with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities and Vocational Guidance Services
Resolved, that the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities approves hereby and authorizes the Superintendent to take the following actions:
1) Enter into a renewal agreement with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) of Columbus, Ohio, for vocational rehabilitation and employment services for the period beginning October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026;
2) Provide local matching fund payments to OOD in an amount not to exceed $428,470.55, which will be reimbursed by Vocational Guidance Services (VGS) of Cleveland, Ohio, to Cuyahoga DD less $100,833.64 to generate $1,609,279.07 in federal funds;
3) Enter into a subcontract agreement with Vocational Guidance Services (VGS) of Cleveland, Ohio, for the period beginning October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, to administer vocational rehabilitation and employment services for individuals;
4) Provide monthly pass-through payments from OOD to VGS in an amount not to exceed $463,900.00 for administrative costs associated with the performance of the agreement; and, be it further resolved, that the Superintendent is authorized hereby to take any and all actions necessary to carry out these transactions.
Motion by Scheidt, second by Steimle. Final resolution: Motion approved.
Aye: Frazier, Hunt, Jackson, McCruel, Scheidt, Schulz, Steimle
- Renew Microsoft Enterprise License Agreement
Resolved, that the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities approves hereby and authorizes the Superintendent to enter into a contract with Dell, Inc., of Round Rock, Texas, to renew Microsoft’s Enterprise License Agreement. The agreement includes the use of Office 365 and supporting software for the period of September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026, for a total sum not to exceed $326,000; and, be it further, that the Superintendent is authorized hereby to take any and all actions necessary to carry out these transactions.
Motion by Hunt, second by Jackson. Final resolution: Motion approved.
Aye: Frazier, Hunt, Jackson, McCruel, Scheidt, Schulz, Steimle
- Purchase computer hardware from CDW government
Resolved, that the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities approves hereby and authorizes the Superintendent to purchase laptop computers and other technology equipment and licenses from CDW Government, LLC during the period September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026, for a sum not to exceed $350,000; and, be it further resolved, that the Superintendent is authorized hereby to take any and all actions necessary to carry out these transactions.
Motion by Schulz, second by Scheidt. Final resolution: Motion approved
Aye: Frazier, Hunt, Jackson, McCruel, Scheidt, Schulz, Steimle
- Approve sale of vacant residential property
Resolved, that the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities approves hereby and authorizes the Superintendent to sell five residential properties that are currently vacant or will be vacant in the near future at fair market value on the open market; and, be it further resolved, that the Superintendent is authorized hereby to take any and all actions necessary to carry out these transactions.
Motion by Scheidt, second by Jackson. Final resolution: Motion approved
Aye: Frazier, Hunt, Jackson, McCruel, Scheidt, Schulz, Steimle
- Approve Sale of Licensed Homes to Private Providers
Resolved, that the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities approves hereby and authorizes the Superintendent to sell three licensed waiver homes to the provider agencies who operate those homes. Total proceeds estimated to be $1,087,000; and, be it further resolved, that the Superintendent is authorized hereby to take any and all actions necessary to carry out these transactions.
Motion by Schulz, second by McCruel. Final resolution: Motion approved
Aye: Frazier, Hunt, Jackson, McCruel, Scheidt, Schulz, Steimle
Executive session and adjournment
Executive Session
Adjourned to executive session at 6:49 p.m.
Reconvene
Meeting reconvened at 7:40 p.m.
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 7:41 p.m.
Next Meeting – Sept. 18, 2025, at 5:30 pm, Donzella Administration Building, 1275 Lakeside Ave E., Cleveland, OH 44114 and via Zoom. Zoom link will be shared on the Cuyahoga DD website at cuyahogadd.org at least three days prior to the meeting.
2025 Board Meeting Schedule: 2025boardmeetingschedulerevised6.27.25.pdf
These notes are by Documenter Regina Samuels. Documenter Julia Brookover recorded audio of this meeting.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcleveland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.