RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio — The Richmond Heights School District, after being turned down by voters in the spring, is back o the ballot this fall. The District is asking for the same amount of money, but is doing so in a way that is more friendly to seniors on a fixed budget.
Back in February, Superintendent Marnisha Brown announced that the District would seek passage of an “audacious” levy of 14.77 mills. The millage would be broken down to pay for operating expenses, construction bonds for a new elementary school, and permanent improvements, including a football stadium for Richmond Heights Upper School.
That levy try received a thumping in March at the ballot box as 69.4 percent of voters said no.
After hearing from community members during post-election community engagement sessions, including many seniors who said the 14.77-mill increase was beyond their means, Brown and the District’s financial advisor, David Conley, went back to the drawing board and devised a different approach.
Dropping the stadium from its list of needs, the District planned to return to the ballot in November asking for a 3.24-mill property tax increase that will support a $15.4-million bond issue, and a 1.25-percent earned income tax increase that will support the operations of the district and pay for the balance of what is needed to build a new elementary school, which is estimated to cost $30 million.
The 3.24-mill bond issue will cost $113.40 per year, or $9.45 per month, for a home with a market value of $100,000.
The earned income tax increase will be paid only by residents who are working, and is expected to generate $1.4 million per year.
In August, in an email response to cleveland.com, Conley stated, “An earned income tax only taxes ‘earned’ income and exempts interest; dividends; capital gains; pensions; IRA distributions; Social Security benefits; disability and survivor benefits; railroad retirement benefits; welfare benefits; unemployment compensation; child support; property received as a gift, bequest or inheritance; and workers’ compensation benefits.
“Given the large number of residents in Richmond Heights receiving some form of Social Security or retirement income, the earned income tax would have little to no cost for those residents.”
When asked this week how she perceives public reaction to the earned income tax idea and the lesser requested millage amount, Brown, also via email, replied, “Our community appears to be more receptive to the upcoming ballot issue for Richmond Heights Local Schools than the spring election.
“We hosted three Spartan Speaks community engagement events to make sure our residents’ voices were heard. As a result, we came up with a creative funding structure that significantly reduced our ask from 14.77 mills to a 1.25-percent earned income tax, and 3.24-mills property tax.
“This is a more equitable tax structure. It ensures all residents who use the services of the district are contributing to the tax, while protecting those on fixed incomes.”
Here are the other questions posed by cleveland.com to Brown, followed by her answers:
What is the biggest complaint you are still hearing about this ballot issue and how are you answering that complaint?
— Brown: ”Our biggest complaints stem from misinformation, including things like: the district is taking tax refunds; we are asking for the same amount as in March, just in a different way; we are not improving as a district; enrollment is down; and there is nothing wrong with the (current) elementary building.
“We are answering these complaints with facts, which include:
● We reduced our levy ask and removed the athletic stadium from the levy.
● Our high school received 4.5 out of 5 stars on the 2023-2024 State Report Card, released in September.
● The elementary school was constructed in 1965 and does not provide an equal experience to our middle and high school.”
Brown asks residents to visit the District’s website, richmondheightsschools.org, for the latest levy information.
We have heard from a few people who think a new elementary school is not really necessary. How would you answer that statement?
— Brown: “I would invite people into our school to see for themselves. The current school was built in 1965. It is becoming more and more costly to maintain. We’ve spent approximately $1 million in boiler and pipe repairs and $500,000 to replace the roof in the last few years.
“Additionally, there are safety concerns:
● Classrooms have a wall of glass, also known as a fishbowl concept. This prevents sheltering in place among other concerns.
● There is no clean air circulation in the building so there are air purifiers every 10 feet in the hallways.
“Since building our Secondary School, our academic standing has risen.”
What might happen if the ballot issue fails?
— Brown: “The Board of Education will need to address the operating shortfall of $1.2 million that is expected in Fiscal Year 2025. This could result in reductions in staffing, programming and transportation, the elimination of our summer program or specialized services.
“This could also impact our elective course offerings and athletic programming.”
Please add anything else you would like to tell residents/voters.
— Brown: ”We are committed to One Vision, One Mission, One Richmond to provide a quality educational environment to our students, further propelling our city and its residents forward.”
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