Recently, voters in Strongsville Ohio rejected Issue 14, a renewal of a tax levy valued at $9.8 million, proposed by the Strongsville Board of Education.
Voters made their opinion on the proposal clear. By voting “No,” voters agree that it is time to make a change and establish fiscal responsibility. Yet, like a zombie from a cliché horror movie, this tax proposal won’t stay dead.
The local School Board ignored the will of the people by reintroducing the $9.8 million levy for the March ballot. This second attempt to push through an unnecessary tax hike should not be happening.
Strongsville City Schools have $71 million set aside in the bank, which amounts to over 80% of the school district’s revenues. Strongsville also experienced an immense surplus of $9 million this past year. As the Strongsville GOP Schools Finance Committee noted in its report on Issue 14, most voters agree that the tax levy should be halved rather than renewed, given the extent of funds available and the successes of the district.
Earlier this year, the Strongsville GOP Schools Finance Committee advised School Board members to reduce the levy from $9.8 million to ~$5 million. This would have offered the district a rather generous surplus of $4 million and would have saved taxpayers $4.9 million. The Board rejected this idea. The School Board still has time to implement a budget that is more conducive to the needs of its taxpayers for the upcoming year. The deadline for the Board to make this decision is December 20th.
A cut to the proposed levy will not disrupt the district’s budget. Rather, it would provide families and hardworking taxpayers the relief they deserve, which would help strengthen the economy and keep the district on track for continued success. Especially with the general trend of rising home prices in recent years, the board should give up its push for a higher tax burden and remove the question from the ballot.