Strongsville School Board Votes to Put a permanent Property Tax Increase on The November Ballot8/2/2024 As President of the Strongsville GOP, I must express our profound disappointment and concern over the Strongsville City Schools School Board's decision to place a 4.9 mill levy on the ballot. This will result in a permanent property tax increase for Strongsville residents at a time when many are already hurting.
On July 9th, the School Board initiated this process by requesting the revenue value of a NEW 4.9 mill levy from the County government, anticipating it would generate $9.2 million annually—a minor reduction from the original $9.8 million levy that was already rejected twice by Strongsville voters in November and again in March. Notably, this new levy is intended to be a permanent measure, removing future voter input, a decision we believe is fundamentally flawed and out of step with the community's preferences. At last night’s meeting, I, along with many concerned citizens, urged the School Board to reconsider making this a permanent levy. Strongsville voters have twice rejected the current tax levy, and they deserve the right to hold the School Board accountable through regular reviews every five years. Additionally, when the initial 4.9 mill proposal was considered, the Board was not aware of the additional $2.4 million the school system would receive from the property tax increase assessed to Strongsville residents due to Cuyahoga County’s recent revaluation of our property values. Moving forward with this levy equates to a direct tax increase for our residents. We proposed a sensible alternative: a 3.5 mill levy, a revenue-neutral solution, which would provide the necessary funding for our schools while offering much-needed tax relief to our community. We feel this proposal would build unity in the community while providing the necessary funding to continue excellence for our children. Unfortunately, the School Board chose not to adopt this balanced approach and, instead, voted unanimously to advance the PERMANENT TAX INCREASE with the 4.9 mill levy. Moreover, the Board's discussions included strategies for severe spending cuts that would adversely affect our children should the voters reject this levy. This approach is the typical playbook used by politicians to scare our community and cajole them into voting for tax increases. It is wholly unnecessary and alarmist, given that the Strongsville Schools have not yet expended any funds from the previous tax levy, leaving nearly five years' worth of the current levy’s tax revenue in the bank, further increasing the school cash balance to nearly $80 million. The Strongsville GOP stands firm in advocating for fiscal responsibility and transparency. We believe the School Board's decision does not reflect the best interests of our community. We urge Strongsville residents to consider these factors carefully and continue to hold our elected officials accountable. Make Your Voice Heard! We encourage all Strongsville voters to express their opinions on this topic directly to the members of the Board. You may do so by sending an email or calling them using the below information: To send an email to all 5 members [email protected] Mr. Richard Micko President [email protected] 440.238.9988 Mrs. Laura Wolfe-Housum [email protected] 440.915.4871 Mrs. Michelle Bissell Vice President [email protected] 216.410.5575 Mrs. Sharon Kilbane [email protected] 440.785.7892 Ms. Hayley Stovcik [email protected] [No Public Phone Number Available] Thank you. Shannon Burns President, Strongsville GOP |
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