COLUMBUS, Ohio — Outrage from homeowners across Ohio over rising property taxes that prompted reforms from legislators and sparked a drive to abolish them permanently have public school districts concerned.

After all, money derived from property taxes is by far the largest funding source for the state’s public school districts.

The fury has prompted some districts to act, taking steps such as educating voters and considering new funding sources as they brace for what the storm may bring.

School districts have turned to the Ohio School Boards Association, asking how they can better explain how Ohio pays for public education, said Tom Hosler, the organization’s CEO.

“We are hearing from members. Questions about both the property tax changes (recently passed by the legislature) and what is kind of playing out for each individual (district) locally,” he said. “We also are hearing questions about the possible ballot issue amendment, with eliminating all property taxes.”

The Committee to Abolish Ohio’s Property Taxes, which is behind the proposed amendment to Ohio’s constitution, is collecting signatures to get on the Nov. 3 ballot. It needs just over 413,000 valid signatures of registered Ohio voters. Volunteers are gathering signatures.

Recent hikes in property values have many Ohio homeowners hurting. In some school districts, homeowners must pay higher property taxes to schools when their home value increases. That spurred interest in the proposed abolishment amendment.

But beyond that issue, districts are acting as legislators continue to consider reforms in Columbus.

Here’s a look at some of those efforts

Rocky River’s voter education

In Rocky River, in suburban Cleveland, the Superintendent Adham Schirg has started a social media series called The ABCs of School Finance.

Schirg said his 12-part series reflects his overall philosophy of being transparent. The series, he hopes, will make people in Rocky River better informed on how the tax system works.

Some trivia about Rocky River schools, from the first installment of the series: Just over 81% of the district’s annual revenues come from property taxes.

That’s high. Statewide, the average portion of school district revenue from local sources, including property taxes, is 46.8%.

Schirg has been sharing one-sheet data points each Friday. With the possibility that a proposed constitutional amendment abolishing property taxes will get on the Nov. 3 ballot, people in Rocky River who are paying attention will be better informed when they go to the polls.

Rocky River schools depend more on property taxes than other districts because of the city’s wealth.

The state’s funding formula expects wealthier districts to raise more money locally.

Of Rocky River schools’ $51.3 million yearly revenue, just $7.6 million comes from the state funding formula and the U.S. Department of Education for special education and other services.

“That puts the burden on local school districts to work with their residents to close that gap to provide educational services,” said Schirg, the superintendent.

Further adding to the tax burden of homeowners and farmers is how the legislature has given relief to business property taxpayers in recent years.

“Statewide, homeowners’ share has increased from 47% in 1991 to 70% in 2023,” the data sheet from Jan. 9 notes.

On Dec. 19, Gov. Mike DeWine signed a property tax package to provide property owners $3 billion in savings. Districts are evaluating the impact of the legislation.

Rocky River schools could hardest hit by House Bill 335, which limits increases districts receive for unvoted levies known as “inside millage” when counties revaluate property values, Schirg said.

Previously, if a house value increased by 30%, for example, districts would receive a 30% increase on the unvoted levies. Under HB 335, the increases will be capped to inflation over the preceding three years.

“This is something that we are prepared for and recognize that it’s something that we’re going to have to evaluate moving into those reappraisal processes,” Schirg said.

If the property tax abolishment plan gets on the ballot and wins, Rocky River would lose over $41.5 million annually.

“We would have to look to partner with our residents, along with state legislators, to figure out how do we make up for that revenue gap?” he said.

A different approach

Some school boards are looking at other options as they face a potential future without property taxes.

Last week the Willoughby-Eastlake City School District in Lake County took the first action in putting a 1.5% earned income tax on May ballots to replace four levies supported by property taxes.

School income taxes are more common in rural areas, where people may own a lot of land but not have huge incomes. Rural school boards have seen income taxes as fairer to the public, said Hosler of the Ohio School Boards Association.

“Now you’re beginning to have conservations about how does that work in these other settings,” he said. “I think it’s an option, not necessarily because of the property tax proposed amendment but I think just with property taxes and home values increasing and rising the way they have, that has caused boards to ask treasurers and superintendents to run the numbers.”

The Willoughby-Eastlake school board still needs to vote a second time to send the measure to May 5 ballots, board vice president Jaime Shatsman said. The public is invited to attend an event on Jan. 26 in which the earned income tax will be discussed.

An earned income tax would apply only to wages. Social Security, pensions, capital gains and other sources of income would not be taxed. The school board chose to tax wages in part to protect retirees leaving on fixed incomes, she said.

In a recession, when people earn less, they would be taxed less. The criticism of an earned income tax is that the funding squarely falls on working people, not on commercial and business profits or valuations, she said.

The 1.5% earned income tax would generate about $28.2 million for the district each year. The emergency levies it would replace total $29.6 million, for a savings to the public of about $1.4 million a year, Shatsman said.

The school board convened a work group to study the school funding issue as it saw property taxes becoming unaffordable as valuations soared. The school board also followed state-level discussions about lowering property taxes.

“Right now, a school district can only forgo property taxes, which gives taxes back to the people of all income levels, as well as businesses and corporations,” Shatsman said. “There was no good way for us to give significant relief to the people who need it most under the current existing laws. We kind of heard this from our community.”

The school board was also following the abolishment amendment. If property taxes go away, officials in Columbus will not be able or willing to replace all $22 billion statewide raised from property taxes for schools, she said.

“So we’re looking at all these things,” she said. “We’re saying, What other options do we have at a local level? We can’t wait around for someone else to fix this problem.”

Lake County Commissioner John Plecnik, who is also a Cleveland State law professor who studies taxes and public policy, thinks an earned income tax is a mistake.

Plecnik, who lives in the district, believes residents with the means will move out.

“This is going to create the classic tax death spiral,” he said. “You cannot have any tax rate – income, property, whatever – that is substantially above your neighbors without having people migrate.”

Plecnik, who supports the abolishment amendment proposal, said that the point of getting rid of property taxes is not to replace them with another funding stream.

“People want government to cut spending,” he said.

Abolishing property taxes

If the abolishment amendment gets on the ballot and passes, officials will likely have to cut state and local government.

Historically, most successful Ohio ballot campaigns use paid signature gatherers. The committee behind the abolishment proposal is using volunteers. Brian Massie, a member of the committee, declined to share how many names it has collected toward its goal.

Massie, a retired CPA and business owner who lives in Lake County, said cutting state and local government spending will put more money in the hands of people to spend locally, which will boost local economies, he said.

The state constitution requires the legislature to fund the public schools. Massie argues the legislature has shirked that duty.

Local districts should not be raising money through property taxes, because that’s the legislature’s job, he said.

And, he doesn’t think it’s naïve to end property taxes without a replacement stream of revenue. Government will adjust to the proper size, he said.

Rocky River City School District is among the state’s best. In September, it received 5 stars on the Ohio School Report Cards, the highest possible score. The report cards are mostly based on student performance in standardized tests.

But most districts don’t do as well. Massie said he doesn’t like how school expenses keep rising as enrollment across the state is generally on the decline.

“Schools have got to learn to perform better,” he said.

Former 5-star commit Aaron Scott Jr. has found his new landing spot, and it’s with a rival in the Big Ten. According to an announcement made on social media by Hayes Fawcett, Scott will continue his career with the Oregon Ducks.

Originally from Springfield, Ohio, Scott committed to the Buckeyes over Michigan and others in the class of 2024 as one of the best corners in the country. At the time, it was expected that he could be a big part of the future of the defensive backfield in Columbus. And while Scott received some playing time, he had yet to break into the starting lineup through the first couple of seasons and will have two seasons remaining at Oregon.

Scott had 11 tackles and 1 pass defended through his sophomore season and was expected to be in-line to compete for a starting spot at cornerback next season. It was a surprise when he entered the portal, and we may never really know what kind of situation and conversations occurred behind the scenes.

As a transfer, according to 247Sports, Scott is ranked as the No. 19 cornerback and 291st prospect. Oregon and Ohio State are scheduled to meet each of the next two years, but the Big Ten schedules have not been set when it comes to dates and times

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — It all started at Cain Park for Suzanne Conway, who will now be returning to the historic amphitheater as its general manager.

City officials announced her hiring Friday (Jan. 16) with Conway starting next month at the oldest operating municipally-owned performing arts venue in the country.

Conway stated in a city press release that she looks forward to “returning to Cain Park, where I began my career all the way back in 1999, and where I first fell in love with live venue entertainment.”

A Northeast Ohio native, Conway brings a wealth of experience back home, having worked in recent years for the country’s largest music venue operator, the House of Blues (HOB).

She has served as general manager at HOB Chicago and San Diego, as well as Director of Music Hall Operations for HOB Dallas.

Conway actually started in 2018 as the assistant general manager for HOB’s operation of Masonic Cleveland.

“After the incredible opportunities I’ve had to grow and do what I love all over the world, I am beyond proud to come home to Cain Park,” she added.

“I cannot wait to bring the best, most diverse live entertainment to Cleveland Heights.”

Her resume also includes early stints in patron services for Great Lakes Theater and a position at Cain Park as Assistant Operations Manager.

Conway then branched into tour management for David Copperfield, film festival operations for Sundance, and managing theater companies at The Old Globe in San Diego.

“She returned for a second tour of duty at Cain Park as Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator,” the city press release noted, adding that her experience has not been limited to the entertainment industry.

“Ms. Conway also counts race director for Susan G. Komen Northeast Ohio, as well as community development manager for the American Cancer Society’s Greater Cleveland Chapter among her career accomplishments,” city officials added.

As she steps into her role operating the entertainment complex at Cain Park, it will look like more of a renaissance than ever.

“Conway’s taking the helm at Cain Park comes at a time of great opportunity, driven in part by the city’s investment of over $5 million in infrastructure improvements,” largely through post-pandemic federal grants, officials said.

The overhaul included seat replacements in the theater and amphitheater, upgrading the audio/visual system, completely renovating the artist and administration building, pavilion roof repairs and adding new lighting on paths and throughout the park.

“In addition, the city built amphitheater-style seating and improved ADA access to the park on its South Taylor end where reinvestment in the Cain Park Village plan continues,” the press release stated.

The work includes restoration of the Taylor Tudor buildings, a $25 million renovation of a mixed-use space near the park.

“We’re truly excited to welcome Suzanne Conway to manage Cain Park. She will arrive at a very exciting time for the city,” Cleveland Heights Mayor Jim Petras said.

Petras added that with unanimous approval from City Council, Cain Park’s 2026 production budget was doubled and the decision was made to elevate Cain Park to its own city department in the near future.

“We were so impressed with her appreciation and reverence for Cain Park as a venue and as a community asset.”

Her salary has also been bumped up to a pay range in line with the city’s communications chief and parks and recreation director.

To learn more, log on to cainpark.com.

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