Mentor Public Schools is putting a big ask in front of voters this spring: a five-year, 4.9-mill operating levy on the May 5 primary ballot that would raise roughly $13.5 million a year. District figures say the measure would cost about $172 per $100,000 of property value, or roughly $415 a year for the typical Mentor homeowner. Superintendent Craig Heath says the request comes as the district works through year one of a five-year, $10 million reduction plan that has already eliminated more than 30 positions, and he plans to use a series of town halls to spell out what happens if the levy comes up short.
What The 4.9-Mill Levy Puts On The Ballot
According to the Lake County Board of Elections, the May 5 ballot lists a "4.9 Mills Additional Levy - current expenses" for the Mentor Exempted Village School District. The county summary says it would collect $13,458,695 annually for five years.
The summary notes the levy would amount to about $172 for each $100,000 of the county auditor’s market value. The levy is scheduled to commence in 2026, with the first payment due in 2027.
Cuts Mentor Has Already Made
In an interview with News 5 Cleveland, Superintendent Craig Heath said Mentor is in year one of a five-year, $10 million reduction plan that has already cut more than 30 positions. He added that the school board recently approved smaller administrative benefit packages, including no raises and a reduced cell-phone stipend.
Heath noted the district serves about 6,500 students and employs just under 1,000 people, and he said the last new-money levy passed in 2016. "We provide an 'unbelievable service to the students and families in our community at a relatively reasonable cost,'" Heath told News 5 Cleveland.
How Much It Would Hit Homeowners
Mentor Chief Financial Officer Bill Wade told The News-Herald the levy would cost roughly $171.50 per $100,000 of valuation. The paper reports that the county auditor’s current average home valuation in Mentor is about $242,050, which would translate to roughly $415 a year for the typical homeowner.
District materials and local officials say the new revenue is intended to preserve current programming, staffing and transportation services rather than add new initiatives.
Town Halls And What Happens If It Fails
Mentor Public Schools will host three community town halls to walk residents through the levy details: March 26 at Ridge Elementary, March 31 at Shore Middle School and April 8 at Memorial Middle School. Each event will begin at 6:30 p.m., district officials told News 5 Cleveland.
Heath warned that if voters reject the levy, the district would need to identify an additional $3.4 million in cuts, affecting administration, teaching and support staff and possibly reducing services such as transportation. He also said state funding currently covers about 22 percent of Mentor’s revenue.
Voters will decide the measure on the May 5 primary ballot. Residents can review the county’s ballot summary and full text of issues at the Lake County Board of Elections and can attend a scheduled town hall to ask questions of district leaders.
