In his second State of the County speech, Executive Chris Ronayne argued Cuyahoga County has a leading role to play in the region – whether that’s in pressing for state aid after the recent tornadoes or in revamping children’s services. 

“We all play on the same team to pitch our region to the world, and we team up when we face difficult times together,” he said. “We’ve got each other’s backs.”

The county executive, who took office last year, faced multiple interruptions from protestors. And he addressed the burning issue facing many homeowners: rising property taxes. 

Here are five things to take away from Ronayne’s speech, which was hosted by the City Club of Cleveland at the Huntington Convention Center. 

Cuyahoga County hits the property tax ball into Columbus’ court

This year, Ronayne has had to be the bearer of bad news for Cuyahoga County taxpayers. The latest round of property value appraisals led to a 32% increase, on average, in valuation across the county. 

While that doesn’t translate to a dollar-for-dollar property tax increase, the fact remains that many people in Cuyahoga County are seeing their tax bills go way up. Ronayne said that the county will roll out a cash assistance effort this fall for seniors squeezed by property taxes. 

“We do not want to see our residents leave their homes because of a tax bill,” he said. 

It’s not just frustrated homeowners who are putting pressure on the county, either. The Plain Dealer editorial board last week urged Ronayne to return the additional tax revenue the county will see from the revaluations. 

Ronayne reminded the audience of Columbus’ role in the property tax squeeze. The reappraisals, which happened statewide, are required by Ohio law. 

The county executive said state lawmakers could ease the economic pain, too. Ronayne threw his support behind two bills pending in the Ohio House of Representatives. One would freeze property taxes for qualifying senior homeowners. The other would offer a tax rebate for homeowners whose property taxes exceed 5% of their incomes. The proposal also includes relief for certain renters. 

Taxes are one piece of the housing picture. Ronayne also announced that he’s putting $3 million into a new affordable housing fund. The money would help with repairs and the building of modular homes, a simplified form of home construction. 

Protesters focus in on Israel bonds

Protesters inside the convention center tried seven times to interrupt Ronayne’s speech. They were calling on Cuyahoga County to divest from Israel bonds amid the war in Gaza. Each time a person spoke up, sheriff’s deputies quickly led them away. 

Initially, Ronayne stopped to let demonstrators speak before resuming his speech. But later he powered ahead over the occasional shouting.

Demonstrators then tried another tack: pounding drums and blowing horns on the street outside the convention center. The noise, though audible inside, did little to drown out the county executive’s voice over the sound system. 

“Our First Amendment is well at work today here in the citadel of free speech,” he said, referencing the City Club’s nickname. 

During the question-and-answer session, local union organizer and activist Akshai Singh asked Ronayne about the county’s Israel bond investment. The county holds $16 million in the bonds, an investment that began in 2006.

“We are not moving away from Israel bonds,” the county executive said. 

No news on Browns or Cleveland’s other stadiums

One of the biggest general-interest news stories of the week – the rebranding of Browns stadium as Huntington Bank Field – received just a passing mention. 

Ronayne noted that the stadium now shared a name with the convention center in which he was speaking. He said he liked the connection between the two. That wasn’t all. 

“Moreover, I like the walking distance between, if you know what I mean,” he said. 

There was a knowing chuckle and applause from the audience. Ronayne this summer publicly opposed the Browns’ preferred plan to build a new indoor stadium in Brook Park. In effect, the county executive backed Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s position that the Browns should stay on the lakefront. 

But in his speech, Ronayne did not say whether he would sweeten Cleveland’s $461 million stadium pitch with additional dollars from Cuyahoga County. 

Also unmentioned was a second stadium albatross soaring over the city and county: rising repair costs at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Progressive Field. All three professional sports facilities rely on alcohol and cigarette tax dollars for repair funds, but that money is stretched thin. 

Ronayne has said previously he wants to chart a new course for Gateway Economic Development Corporation, the nonprofit that serves as the landlord at the ballpark and arena. 

What does that mean financially? The answer will have to wait for another State of the County speech. 

County moves ahead with new jail

After many years of meetings, arguments and protests, Cuyahoga County is building a new jail. Ronayne didn’t have new announcements to make about the project, but he signaled that he wants the new jail to be a break from the old one. 

In 2018, a report commissioned by the U.S. Marshals’ Service blasted the conditions inside the downtown county jail. Now the county is building a new, $750 million suburban facility in Garfield Heights – buoyed financially by a 40-year extension of the 0.25% sales tax. 

Ronayne didn’t describe the new jail as just another lockup; instead, he portrayed it as a campus offering wraparound services for people detained there. 

“Our campus will not just be a jail, but a community center facility that will provide those in our custody with the resources that they need to succeed and return,” he said. 

New children’s campus needs a fundraiser

Ronayne has been passing the collection plate for a fix to the Jane Edna Hunter building problem. For years, kids without foster placements have ended up staying overnight at the office building, which serves as the headquarters for the county’s children and family services department. 

The county is transforming a site on the West Side of Cleveland into a new wellness campus for kids in county custody. Ronayne said he wants the campus to become “a place of dignity and support,” with 58 placement beds, classrooms and a gym. 

But Ronayne needs to raise some money for the $14 million project. During the speech, he announced that health insurer Medical Mutual had made a large gift to the effort. Though he didn’t disclose the amount, the county says it has $4 million left to raise. 

Ronayne, a former leader of nonprofit University Circle Inc., joked that if this were his old job, he’d hold a fundraiser. 

“We’d ask you to raise a paddle,” he said. 

Jokes aside, there’s been good news at Jane Edna Hunter. As of April, fewer kids were staying overnight in the building.