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Levy Overview
At the April 19, 2023 Finance Committee Meeting, the committee reached a consensus and recommends a new combined operating/permanent improvement levy. While the levy did not pass in the Fall of 2023, it will return to the March ballot. The levy would be 8 mills overall: 7 mills for operating and 1 mill for permanent improvements. The levy term would be continuous.
Our Goal
SUPPORT CHS is made up of a group of volunteers consisting of residents, parents, educators, and alumni that wish to spread awareness and support for the CHS District levy that will appear for ratification on the March 19th ballot. Our hope is to provide adequate information to include financial data, as well as district performance, that will make it apparent how important it is that we keep investing in our very successful school district.
Levy Timeline
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-February 20, 2024: Deadline for voter registration
-February 21, 2024: Early voting begins (weekdays)
- March 9, 2024: Early voting begins (+ weekends)
- March 19, 2024: ELECTION DAY!
Why Do School Districts Rely on Levies?
Ohio's school funding model is designed in such a way that local taxpayers share the burden with the state to fund public education. Ohio law known as House Bill 920 also protects homeowners and residents from facing inflationary tax increases as property values increase. This means that when property values increase, the effective tax rate in a district decreases because only the amount approved by voters can be collected. As a result, most school districts across the state ask voters for tax levies every few years in order to maintain normal operations as the cost of goods and services increase.
What Will This Levy Cost Me?
Your tax burden for the levy is calculated based off the "ASSESSED" value of your home. The state takes 35% of the "MARKET" value of your home to determine your "ASSESSED" value. Think of the "MARKET" value as what you could potentially sell your property for tomorrow, if you chose to do so.
For example: A home that has a "MARKET" value of $250,000 has an "ASSESSED" value of $87,500 (250,000 x 0.35). This value is what determines your millage increase.
What is a mill? 1 mill = $1 per $1000 in "ASSESSED" valuation of your home.
Therefore, the 8 mill levy being proposed will add $8 per $1000 in "ASSESSED" property value to your annual taxes. Taking our example above, you can calculate your increase in annual taxes by dividing your "ASSESSED" value by 1000, and multiplying that by 8(mills).
$87,500/1000 = $87.50
$87.50 X 8 = $700
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You can find your home's assessed value at the Cuyahoga County Auditor's website by clicking HERE and follow the instructions below.
1. Select YOUR VILLAGE from the CITY menu.
2. Select the ADDRESS tab.
3. Type in your address in the SEARCH bar and select your home address.
4. Select TAXES BY YEAR under the TAXES menu.
Your assessed property values will be displayed under ASSESSED VALUES and the Total Value is the number used to determine your tax burden. Use the following formula to calculate your burden:
"Total Assessed Value" / 1000 X 8
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What is the Breakdown of This Levy?
The recommendation is a continuous 8 mill combination levy for the March 19, 2024 ballot, which includes a 7 mill operating levy and a 1 mill permanent improvement levy. By law, the operating levy funds can be used for any general purpose related to the operation of the district. The permanent improvement levy funds can be used for any property, asset, or improvement with an estimated life of usefulness of five years or more. (Building updates, roofs, parking lots, heating and cooling systems, new buses, or technology)
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Based on the district's current five-year forecast, operational costs are projected to surpass funding by the end of this school year. School districts in Ohio cannot operate in deficit spending so that means without an increase in revenue, the district will be required to implement cost reductions. This financial situation is due to a loss of revenue (ie. Phase-out of Tangible Personal Property), increase in expenses as a result of inflation, the state of Ohio's unconstitutional funding model, and other factors.
What Will This Levy Fund?
The 7 mill operating levy will fund existing costs and educational programs as well as the purchase of textbooks and other educational materials and supplies to maintain the current level of services offered by Cuyahoga Heights Schools.
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The 1 mill permanent improvement levy will be used in two ways. First, to cover the district's most urgent capital improvement needs to maintain the function and safety of our facilities. Second, to cover technology expenditures, vehicles (buses & vans), and costs related to facility and equipment maintenance.
What is the Current Financial State of our District?
In the Cuyahoga Heights School district, we are fortunate to have a talented Treasurer that has taken the time to make very detailed financial information available to all. Below are links to a summary of the district's 5 year forecast, as well as an 85 page document that contains detailed notes to this forecast. In addition to those documents, you will find links to the CHS district's Financial Statements for fiscal years 2018-2022.
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Notes to the May 2023 Five-Year Forecast
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Financial Statements