The State of Illinois is ranked DEAD LAST in the country in funding for people with developmental disabilities. The creation of a Developmental Disabilities Board will generate approximately $9 million specifically for the enhancement and creation of programs for individuals with developmental disabilities in McHenry County. Make sure you get out and make your vote count on April 9.
Learn more about the initiative at www.VoteYesDDB.com.
How is this going to be different than the 708 Board?
By law this is a unique and separate line of funding specifically for individuals with developmental disabilities. Therefore, it would not fall under any of the regulations or controls of funding for mental health or the McHenry County Mental Health Board.
How can you guarantee that the money is going to be spent on services and not buildings or infrastructure?
Upon passing of this referendum a 377 Board of 3 to 5 individuals will be created through appointments made by the McHenry County Board. The 377 Board will enact bylaws that will ensure that the focus of funding is on services. To appoint these individuals, the county board will post a public notice that seats are available. Individuals can then submit their names for consideration. Developmental disability service organizations throughout the county will assist the McHenry County Board with the establishment of the criteria by which 377 Board members will be nominated.
What services will be provided with the new tax dollars?
The first duty of the 377 Board will be to conduct a strategic planning process with the community to identify and prioritize the service needs of individuals with developmental disabilities in McHenry County. The objective is to target these monies to support individuals and families who otherwise are not served or underserved by current state and federal funding.
What about administrative costs?
The objective is to model the allocation and governance of funds by the same methodology used by the recently-passed senior referendum. The senior referendum utilizes existing overhead and infrastructure of county government.
Why can’t you fund it some other way?
The State of Illinois is ranked dead last in the country in funding for developmental disabilities. This results in McHenry County having a severely limited number of individuals with developmental disabilities who can access services. Currently, over 5,000 individuals in the county have a developmental disability and only approximately 900 can access services due to the limited funding.
Who is going to decide how the money is spent?
Through the 377 Board’s strategic planning process and prioritization of needs, the community will have a voice in how the money is spent.
Will the taxes you collect increase each year for this purpose?
No, once established the tax rate will remain the same unless a new referendum is introduced and voted upon by the community.
How many other counties have a 377 Board?
Fourteen, but several other counties are either in the process of implementing a 377 Board or are exploring the establishment of one.
