Strongsville officials are gearing up for what could be a pivotal tax vote this fall, as they look to put a new 1-mill property levy for the fire department in front of voters on Nov. 3. City Council is expected to decide whether to move the plan to the ballot at a special meeting scheduled for Monday, July 27.
Finance Director Eric Dean told reporters the proposal would cost homeowners about $35 a year for every $100,000 of assessed property value. In return, the city says it could bring on roughly a dozen additional firefighters and buy equipment for a new fire station. The Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office estimates a 1-mill levy would generate about $2.3 million annually, according to Cleveland.com.
Where the money would go
City leaders say they intend to channel most of the new money directly into the fire department rather than the city’s general fund. The focus, they say, is on staffing and equipping the department’s growing footprint, including a new station.
Officials point to the city’s 2022 renewal levy as a preview of how dedicated funds can work. Revenue from that renewal was earmarked for firefighter salaries and operations at the Albion Road and Priem Road satellite station, and council records show the measure was certified with a county estimate of about $2.24 million a year. Details are outlined in the City of Strongsville resolution and county certification for the 2022 renewal, available through the City of Strongsville.
Politics and the timing
On the political front, council members sound cautiously open to the idea, with plenty of awareness that “new tax” is never an easy sell. Councilwoman Kelly Kosek said she does not oppose a fire levy but urged colleagues to be deliberate about how and when they ask residents to pay more. Councilman Jim Carbone emphasized that Strongsville’s overall property tax rate is still low compared with many other communities in Cuyahoga County.
Mayor Thomas Perciak noted that Strongsville City Schools are also expected to seek voter approval for a levy on the November ballot, a one-two punch that officials acknowledge could influence how residents view the city’s fire request. Those comments and the council’s timeline were reported by Cleveland.com.
What comes next
The special council meeting on Monday, July 27 will determine whether Strongsville formally asks voters to sign off on the 1-mill fire levy this November. If council gives the green light, county election officials would add the measure to the Nov. 3 general-election ballot.
If voters approve the tax, the levy would roll out under the county’s certification process and the city’s implementation schedule. City officials say that timeline would dictate when they can start hiring the additional firefighters and purchasing equipment tied to the new station.
