Independence voters will head to the polls on May 5 to decide whether to replace the city’s aging primary and middle schools with a single, all‑new PreK–8 campus on the district grounds. The plan combines a modest property‑tax bond with a 1% school‑district income tax so that both property owners and wage earners share the cost. District officials peg the new campus at about 125,530 square feet, with an all‑in price tag of roughly $59.5 million, while the ballot’s legal wording lists $7,630,000 in bonds.
What’s on the ballot
According to Cuyahoga County Board of Elections documents, the measure asks voters to approve an annual 1.00% tax on earned income for 30 years beginning Jan. 1, 2027, and to authorize bonds whose debt would be paid in part by a 0.75‑mill property tax. That property levy comes out to about $26 per $100,000 of market value. The ballot language serves as the legal authorization the county will use if the measure passes and includes the county fiscal officer’s estimated tax impacts.
Why the district wants a new building
Independence Local Schools’ planning packet and FAQ report that a third‑party facilities assessment found renovating the Primary School (built in 1956) and the Middle School (built in 1961) would cost roughly $63 million. By comparison, a new PreK–8 campus is estimated at $59.5 million and would put two separate wings under one roof with shared core spaces.
The district’s materials lay out sample tax impacts. One example: a resident earning $100,000 who owns a $100,000 home would pay about $1,026.25 annually. A homeowner with no earned income would see about $26.25 per year. The same documents show a tentative design window of June 2026 through June 2027, with construction scheduled from April 2027 through May 2029 if voters say yes.
“This project is a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity,” Superintendent Kelli Cogan said, pitching the plan as a way to improve safety, learning spaces, and long‑term fiscal stability, as outlined by Independence Local Schools.
Voters have seen a version of this movie before. A similar school‑construction proposal was rejected in 2019, when coverage reported the issue failed by roughly a 56%–44% margin. As reported by ideastream, the earlier bond measure went down with opponents holding a clear majority.
Community meetings and next steps
The district has been holding community sessions, and the campaign calendar includes an open house set for May 3 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the primary and middle‑school campus, according to Cleveland.com. The measure is on the May 5 Primary ballot, and certified language, along with the county’s estimated tax figures, is available from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.
If voters approve the package, the district’s timeline calls for design work from June 2026 through June 2027 and construction from April 2027 through May 2029. Between now and the vote, the district says it will continue outreach and maintain tools on its website to help residents estimate how the plan would affect their taxes.
