Strongsville School Levy Fails, District Says It Will Try Again

STRONGSVILLE, OH — Voters soundly rejected a tax levy for the Strongsville Schools on Tuesday night. Nearly 62 percent of voters cast their ballot against the levy, but district officials are already promising to again place the levy on a future ballot.

Tuesday's vote was on a 7.9 mill continuous levy, which would have generated about $11.3 million annually for the school district, officials said. The levy would have cost about $276 annually for a resident with a $100,000 home.

Strongsville Schools Superintendent Cameron Ryba said money from the levy would have been used to support Advanced Placement and Honors courses, extracurricular opportunities, safety measures, transportation, and updated technology and textbooks in the district. He also said the funds are needed for financial stability.

“Although we are disappointed with the election results for Issue 8, our District will continue to move forward. We would like to thank the many volunteers who supported Issue 8 going door-to-door, hosting neighborhood coffee talks, placing yard signs throughout the community, and endorsing Issue 8 by sharing the positive story of Strongsville City Schools," Ryba said in a statement.

The sound defeat at the ballot box on Tuesday won't stop the district from trying to pass the levy again.

"We will seek another opportunity to place this operating levy on the ballot, as these dollars are critical to the future of our District and the opportunities we are able to provide our students. Continued failure of this operating levy will result in cost reduction measures that will negatively affect our District’s programs, services, and resources for our students,” Ryba said.

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Photo from Emily Leayman, Patch