Strongsville schools levy aims to avoid deeper cuts as voters weigh Issue 9

NewsStrongsville City School District voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to approve Issue 9, a 6.7-mill, five-year operating levy that district officials said would generate about $15.4 million annually and help avoid deeper cuts to academic programs and student services.John Pana, cleveland.comBy Kaylee Remington, cleveland.comcleveland.com Express DeskSTRONGSVILLE, Ohio — Voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to approve a five-year operating levy Strongsville City School District officials said would help preserve academic programs and reduce the need for deeper budget cuts.According to ballot language certified by the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Officer, Issue 9 asks voters to approve a 6.7-mill levy for current operating expenses.The levy would generate an estimated $15.4 million annually and if approved, would first be collected in 2027.The proposed levy would cost property owners about $235 annually for a $100,000 home.District officials said the levy combines the renewal of an existing tax with new operating revenue. Of the 6.7 mills, 3.4 mills would renew an operating levy voters first approved in 2002, generating about $8.3 million annually already used for district operations. The remaining 3.3 mills would provide about $7.5 million in new revenue.School leaders said the new revenue would partially replace funding from a levy voters rejected in 2024 that would have generated about $9.7 million annually. According to the district, the current proposal would collect about $2.2 million less revenue and result in a lower tax rate in 2027 than the rejected measure.The levy is part of the district’s “Plan to Protect Our Core,” which combines spending reductions, transfers from capital improvement funds and new tax revenue. District officials said they have spent down cash reserves and reduced spending since voters rejected the 2024 levy, but reserves cannot support operations indefinitely.Under the plan, $1.8 million in reductions for the 2026-2027 school year and another $3 million in reductions for 2027-2028 would remain in place regardless of the election outcome.If approved, district officials said roughly $15.2 million in additional cuts projected for 2027-2028 could be avoided, helping preserve reading and English-language learner support, special education and gifted services, music and arts programs, athletics, electives and Advanced Placement courses.If the levy fails, officials said approximately $15.2 million in additional reductions would likely be necessary, affecting academics, electives, advanced coursework and gifted and special education services.District data shows Strongsville spends about $17,857 per student, slightly more than the statewide average of $17,609. Administrative spending is nearly identical to the state average.The district receives about $16,694 per student in revenue, below the statewide average of about $18,352, and relies more heavily on local tax dollars than most Ohio school districts.If the levy is approved, collections would begin in calendar year 2027 and continue for five years.Kaylee Remington joined cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer in 2016 and is the news organization's Cuyahoga County suburban cities reporter, focusing on the communities surrounding Cleveland. Her reporting...