Cleveland school tax hike likely to pass

CLEVELAND, Ohio – When 320 of 336 counties were counted, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District's $11.25 mill tax increase was the winner, with 66.4% of votes in favor and 33.5% of votes against.

Cleveland schools sought two tax increases presented to voters as the only question on the ballot: a 10-year tax to generate an estimated $52 million a year and a bond issue to borrow $295 million to build new buildings and improve existing ones.

Members of the district's teachers union expect the levy to pass because Cleveland voters show confidence in the district

The mood at the Cleveland Teachers Union wake party was optimistic, Shari Obrenski, president of the teachers union, said Tuesday evening. The union watch party at the Flat Iron Café ended around 11 p.m

“We are extremely confident about the outcome,” Obrenski said. “We are so grateful to the voters of Cleveland for trusting us and supporting the children of Cleveland.”

According to the county's estimate, the 10-year levy would cost $301 annually for every $100,000 of a property's assessed value. The owner of an average home in Cleveland would likely pay $240 per year, according to a news release from the school district. Over a 35-year period, issuing a bond would cost $93 annually for every $100,000 of property value.

Voters did not have the opportunity to vote on each tax individually. CMSD has combined them into one ballot question, meaning both or neither of them will be adopted.

The CMSD tax increase will help the district at a time when it is facing a funding shortfall, due in large part to one-time federal coronavirus funds that were pledged and spent.

Voters seemed inclined to support Cleveland schools this election for a variety of reasons, including the district's improved score in the latest state report card, Obrenski said. Teachers knocked on doors and talked to voters about why the levy was needed.

“I think voters listened, and they showed us that tonight,” she said.

Passing the operational portion of the levy and renewing the bond would allow the district to continue its progress by continuing mental health supports and maintaining facilities, she said.

However, the district has said it expects $80 million in cuts with or without a levy, but without a levy the cuts would have been another $80 million deeper, Obrenski said.

In several other Cuyahoga County communities – including Mayfield, Richmond Heights and Strongsville – voters were asked to approve proposed tax increases to fund a new elementary school, improved school security, extracurricular activities for additional students and more.

Mayfield City Schools

In a close race, Mayfield's school levy received 57.7% of votes in favor and 42.2% of votes against, with 18 of 27 precincts counted.

The district asked voters to approve an additional $5 million tax for current expenses. The estimated levy will be $7.743 million annually, costing $175 annually for every $100,000 of a property's county assessed value.

Homeowner cost estimates are based on home values ​​for the past year prior to Cuyahoga County's most recent reassessments.

Tax requests are for set total amounts, not a specific tax rate.

Mayfield school officials said funds from the levy — Issue 51 — would improve school safety, fund additional mental health supports, improve early literacy and math initiatives and expand career readiness programs for high school students, among other things.

If the levy fails, Mayfield schools are expected to begin $1.5 million in deficit spending next year, with immediate budget cuts, school officials said.

“This levy is critical to maintaining the daily operations of Mayfield Schools and ensuring that teachers and staff continue to provide a high-quality education and prepare our students for their future,” school officials said on the district’s website.

Local Schools in Richmond Heights

The combined property and purchase tax levy in Richmond Heights appeared headed for defeat: 64% voted against and 35.9% voted for the measure, with six of eight precincts counted.

The Richmond Heights School The district wanted voters to approve a combined property and purchase tax levy.

The first is a rolling 1.25% annual income tax on school district income of individuals and estates beginning January 1st. The money is used for ongoing expenses.

The second is a bond issue to construct school facilities and renovate and expand existing buildings, including through a program run by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. The district would borrow $15,445,000 to be repaid annually for a maximum of 37 years. It is estimated that issuing the bond will cost $113 per $100,000 of county assessed property value.

The combined levies would raise about $30 million to build a new elementary school and $1.4 million a year to run the district.

“The fundamental problems with the roof, boiler and pipes have cost $1.5 million in repairs over the past few years,” Richmond Heights school officials said on the district’s website.

If the levy fails, the district's most recent five-year forecast shows a revenue deficit of about $1.2 million in fiscal year 2025, school officials said. The last ballot question was passed in 2017; This income was used to modernize the secondary school.

Strongsville City Schools

Strongsville's squad seemed headed for defeat. In a count of 27 out of 30 districts, 59.9% were against and 40% were in favor.

The district requested an ongoing additional tax of 4.9 million for current expenses. The levy is estimated to raise $9.23 million annually, costing $172 annually per $100,000 of property value.

Passage of the levy would allow Strongsville schools to eliminate the majority of student fees, attendance and coaching fees for athletics and full-day kindergarten tuition while retaining $4.2 million for student opportunities, Strongsville school officials said.

These opportunities for students include the addition of a music production lab, a gifted program coordinator, district social workers, more co-curricular and extracurricular offerings, and more.

Failure of the levy would result in a reduction in instructional offerings, increased class sizes, staff reductions, an increase in fees, and a reduction in students' extracurricular activities and transportation.

Failure of the levy would also result in $3 million in budget cuts for the 2025-26 school year, doubling each year thereafter, Strongsville school officials said.

Julie Washington provides healthcare for cleveland.com. To read previous stories at this link.