Olmsted Falls finance director taking a look at consolidating city’s levies

OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio — When it comes to going to the ballot box regarding levy renewals, Olmsted Falls residents are quite busy annually.

Take for instance this year when they’re being asked to approve two expiring five-year levies regarding the parks & recreation department (Issue 30) and the fire department (Issue 31).

These are just two of the city’s 11 levies, which is why new Olmsted Falls Finance Director Tom Reynolds recently said he will be taking a look at the pros and cons of potentially consolidating levies alleviate possible ballot fatigue for the constituency.

“Olmsted Falls has no permanent levies, no 10-year levies,” he said.

“We have 11 different small levies that are five years each and they’re staggered when they’re up. So we’re going to look at that.”

The finance director said he plans on examining future levy renewals, which depending on the mill rates may or may not save the community money putting the issues on the ball.

Olmsted Falls Mayor James Graven added, “Most cities probably have like four big levies. We have like 11 little ones.”

Reynolds noted the levies are needed to maintain the current level of basic city services with only about 10 percent of property taxes going to Olmsted Falls.

Aside from the November issues, the list of existing outside millage levies — no tax increase and no additional revenue can be collected — include a 1.30-mill road repair levy up in 2025, a .65-mill fire equipment levy up in 2025, a 1.30-mill police levy up in 2025 and a 1.90-mill fire levy up in 2026.

As far as inside millage levies, which are not up for vote, there’s the 2.70-mill general fund levy, .2-mill cemetery levy, .30-mill fire pension levy and .30 police pension levy.

“Depending on how we would do things, we’re going to be looking at that in the future,” he said.

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