(Photo by Amber Phipps) The Washington County Commissioners listen and respond to public comments during discussion at the regular meeting Thursday.

The Washington County Commissioners announced their approval for a tax levy, which will provide funding for the Washington County Board of Developmental Disabilities, to be placed on the ballot in May.

In Thursday’s commission meeting, the commissioners said after many discussions with the WCBDD and reviewing their financial figures, they made the decision to support the levy for the ballot in the upcoming election.

“I appreciate Robin and Tiffany for bringing us a lot of information over the last month to be able to look at this and evaluate it,” said Commissioner Charlie Schilling. “There were a lot of things we didn’t know … and I’m in favor of putting a levy on the ballot here this spring.”

With the 3.6 mil tax levy failing in the November election, the WCBDD has been faced with challenges due to a lack in funding which would’ve been provided if that levy had passed. Those challenges included determining what services would continue, such as the services offered through Ewing School. Over the past few months, Superintendent Tiffany Neill said the board is examining partnerships in order to continue services in any way they can.

“I’m definitely in favor of this and I certainly appreciate your passion,” said Commissioner Eddie Place.

Commissioner Greg Nohe said as commissioners they must do as much as they can to contribute to the needs of the community.

“We weren’t coming here expecting to hear this today based on our last conversation so I’m very pleased you took the time to look at the numbers and see the value in the work that we do and that our folks deserve the quality of care they need,” said Neill.

A few of the board members from the WCBDD were present for the meeting to provide further discussion. When the commissioners announced their approval, a few of the board members said they were “pleasantly surprised.”

“We’re happy to support you in any way that we can,” said Schilling. “Just reach out and let us know.”

Schilling said they have to decide what this looks like for the children at Ewing as well as what it means for the taxpayer so there’s a lot that needs to be evaluated.

“The population we serve are the foremost and should be put foremost,” said board member Yvonne Huck. “We weren’t expecting to hear that we would even be able to be on the levy so I thank you for that.”

Washington County resident Mandie Morris had questions pertaining to the public’s awareness and involvement in terms of the decisions being discussed with the board and the commissioners’ involvement.

Schilling said as commissioners, they don’t oversee the WCBDD but “the funding flows through the office.” The commissioners’ role in this instance is to approve or disapprove the tax levy to be on the ballot.

According to Neill, services at the Ewing School are not county obligations but they were fortunate to be able to provide it. She said there are many other counties in the state who are also experiencing similar challenges for school services provided through a county’s board of developmental disabilities.

“Based on the failure of our levy, which obviously involved the community’s vote, they have spoken, so unfortunately the board had to make some challenging decisions,” said Neill.

Neill said the board will make an official vote in regards to partnerships and services during its regular board meeting Tuesday. The meeting is open to the public and takes place at the Ewing School at 4:15 p.m.

Washington County Department of Job and Family Services Director Flite Freimann thanked the WCBDD board members for their efforts to take care of those in need within the community.

Washington County Sheriff Mark Warden echoed Freimann’s acknowledgements.

“There’s organizations in this room that if we don’t work together we don’t succeed,” said Warden. “What we ought to take out of this room today is community.”

Schilling provided the Washington County Commission’s 2026 Priorities which included expansion on the Route 7 Sewer Project, assisting with the Sheriff’s Office HIDTA (High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas), oil and gas revenue through Wayne National Forest and more.