Ballot Issue: Brecksville-Broadview Heights Schools Renewal Levy

What: A 6.9-mill renewal levy for the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District

Election Day: Aug. 2

History: According to the district’s website, this levy was originally passed in 2001 and renewed by voters in 2005. The levy’s collected millage has since been reduced to 6.3 mills, which generates about $6.3 million for the district.

Cathy Harbinak, the district's coordinator of community relations, said that levies are adjusted over time so that the district only collects the same amount of money it did when it was passed by voters. When the levy was passed in 2001, 6.9 mills generated about $6.3 million. 

In April, the Board of Education decided to put the issue on the ballot as a continuing levy, rather than a renewal levy, which means that if passed, the levy would no longer go to the ballot. It would simply continue to raise money for the district without the residents voting on it every few years.  

Argument For: The renewal wouldn’t raise taxes for residents, but the loss of the money could be dramatic for the district. The as part of the district’s restructuring plan only made up about $1.5 million in savings; this loss would be about four times that.

Argument Against: District officials and board members have been open about the potential arguments against the levy, such as voter fatigue. They also discussed possible concerns about voters losing the ability to vote on the renewal when deciding to change it to a continuing levy. 

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Editor’s note, added July 23, 2011: For more election news, check our .