Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb and Cleveland Metropolitan School District CEO Warren Morgan recently discussed with the city’s top religious leaders the need to back the school district’s proposed tax increase on the November ballot.
They did so at a luncheon last Thursday arranged by the campaign to share information about the levy. Out of the 90 leaders who attended the event at the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Glenville, 77 endorsed the tax increase, the school levy campaign said.
“I can’t think of a group where we had that many churches represented in one location,” said Terry Butler, a member of Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church and a volunteer with the school levy campaign who helped organize the luncheon. “That’s very telling of the kind of feeling that clergy have about supporting children and their future.”
The campaign did not invite reporters to the event, noting it was an informational meeting for church leaders.
The proposed tax increase would raise $52 million each year to cover the district’s academic programs and operating costs. It would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $300 each year for the next 10 years.
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A tall ask
An additional property tax is a tall ask for Clevelanders, said Larry Lumpkin, the chair of the board at Beth-El A.M.E. Zion Church. Cuyahoga County rolled out new, higher property values last month, so taxes are already set to increase next year.
“That’s a sticker shock,” he said. “It’s hard to separate that property tax increase issue on the table from a school levy on the table.”
New property values do not apply to the proposed tax levy because it is based on current home values, not the new values, which take affect in 2025. But Lumpkin said many residents are nonetheless feeling squeezed by the higher property values, which do increase other existing taxes.
Lumpkin also said the district needs the additional tax to hold on to teachers and improve school safety. At a recent presentation to Cleveland City Council, Morgan said CMSD could lose up to 700 teachers if the levy fails.
Lumpkin said CMSD could ease residents’ concerns by laying out a detailed spending plan for the levy funds to show how it would benefit students and teachers.
“It’s going to be tough talking to your congregation about supporting the levy, and many homeowners in your congregation are struggling.”
Cleveland’s youth top of mind
Despite tough conversations and financial struggles, residents will still support the levy, said Rev. Napoleon Harris, the senior pastor at Antioch Baptist Church. He sent a letter last week urging his fellow religious leaders to support the levy, but he also wants to open up discussions with the district about how local churches can help support students and teachers.
“We want more than just being called upon to help push a levy through,” he said. “We want a genuine partnership with our school district and our district administrators.”
Regardless, the needs of Cleveland’s youth remain top of mind for Harris and his congregation, he said.
“There are legitimate concerns with regard to spending, and I think people would love to hear how this is going to benefit,” he said. “But I don’t think that any of that is going to hinder us voting for this levy at all.”
