Voters handed the Cleveland schools a victory, approving a tax increase at a time when district leaders said support was needed to avoid devastating cuts.
Issue 49 passed by a wide margin, winning 66% of the vote with nearly all precincts reporting.
“Our members have worked really hard to talk to the voters in Cleveland and make sure they understood why this was so important, and they’ve done a great job in doing that as evidenced by the outcome tonight,” Cleveland Teachers Union President Shari Obrenski said.
“You know, it feels really good, and it feels that all of this hard work, that it’s justified. And again, we could not do it without the support of the voters in Cleveland, and we will do everything we can to continue to keep their support.
Issue 49 will raise roughly $49 million each year for CMSD, according to the district’s chief financial officer, Kevin Stockdale. The tax increase would last 10 years and cost about $300 each year for a $100,000 home. Homeowners would start paying the new tax next year, but it will be based on current home values, not the county’s new property valuations, which go into effect in 2025.
Voters last approved a levy for the district in 2020, winning 61% of votes.
‘There’s work we have to do,’ Cleveland schools CEO Warren Morgan says
Cleveland schools CEO Warren Morgan told Signal Cleveland Tuesday night that he was prepared both for voters approving or rejecting Issue 49 and that district officials planned for both scenarios.
But the victory doesn’t fix the district’s finances. “This is not like, ‘Oh, it solved all of our problems,’” Morgan said. “There’s work we have to do.”
To those who went out and voted yes on Issue 49, Morgan said, he’s grateful for their belief in the capabilities of CMSD students.
“This is the Cleveland community saying our kids are showing up and doing what they need to do,” he said. “I’m grateful to every single Cleveland voter, even the ones that have asked the tough questions. That’s OK, they’re doing exactly what they need to do. It shows a really engaged community, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
CMSD will have tough choices to make
Even with new funds from the levy, CMSD will have budget cuts on the horizon, according to Morgan. Stockdale gave a financial update in October that showed, with the levy, the district would run a budget deficit of about $76 million in 2028.
“There’s work we have to do as a district to look at our finances,” Morgan said at last month’s Board of Education meeting. “We’re going to be looking at our buildings, we’re going to be looking at our program staffing models. That happens whether a levy passes or not.”
While passing Issue 49 wouldn’t eliminate CMSD’s budget deficit, it buys the district some time to plan cuts. Morgan has said he wants to seek community input and minimize the impact cuts could have on students and teachers. Earlier this year, the district whittled before- and after-school programs and administrative staff to reduce expenses.
Issue 49 also extends, for 35 years, an existing bond issue that residents already pay for. The bond issue costs homeowners about $93 each year for a $100,000 home. The district uses that money for building maintenance, upgrades and construction.
CMSD officials have been working on an updated five-year financial plan. They will present it at a Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 6.
