FOR…CONTINUED EXCELLENCE
ForStrongsville.com is led by Strongsville citizens and leaders with the exclusive aim of ensuring the continual excellence of Strongsville City Schools. We operate as a non-partisan entity, we are donation-funded, and maintain no affiliations with special interest groups or non-transparent PACs. This website's purpose is to provide the public solely with factual information regarding the Strongsville City Schools Levy Renewal set for the March 19th ballot.
Our focus is on delivering objective content to facilitate a well-informed public discussion. Your input and questions are encouraged. Feel free to participate by joining our Facebook page, following our Instagram account, and submitting your inquiries through our "Contact Us" section. Your engagement plays a vital role in fostering an informed community.
A VOTE FOR The Strongsville School Levy Renewal is a vote for a NO TAX increase to the renewal Strongsville voted for in 2019.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Beginning with next fiscal year, 2025 (begins July of 2024), our district is projected to deficit spend, meaning that our district will be spending more money than it is bringing in and will begin to burn through its cash reserves (cash reserves currently 46M at end of fiscal year 2023). Click here for details.
NO NEW TAXES
Click here for details.
STRONG PROPERTY VALUES
CASH RESERVE
The forecasted ending cash balance for fiscal year 2024 this June is 46.1M and then starting in fiscal year 2025, this July, we expect that we will start to cut into that cash reserve. 25M has been set aside into a capital projects fund for future projects to support ALL students. Click here for details.
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
NO NEW TAXES
The reason why the majority of Renewal Levys pass is because they are renewing what was already passed in a prior year. A renewal levy is a continuation of a previously approved levy, which means there will be no impact/increase to your current taxes. Click here for details.
STRONG PROPERTY VALUES
CASH RESERVE
ENDORSEMENTS ELECTED OFFICIALS
Jim Carbone
Council At Large
FACTS
MATTER!!!
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
For our current fiscal year 2024 (fiscal year runs July – June), Revenues are estimated at 88.9M, and expenditures are estimated at 86.3M. This equates to estimated revenues overestimated expenditures of 2.6M.
Beginning with next fiscal year, 2025 (begins July of 2024), our district is projected to deficit spend, meaning that our district will be spending more money than it is bringing in and will begin to burn through its cash reserves (cash reserves currently 46M at end of fiscal year 2023).
With annual inflationary increases, through November 2023 fiscal year to date expenditures are 5.7% higher than the previous year 12 months ago (fiscal year 2023), and 14.3% higher compared through 2 years ago November of fiscal year 2022. That trend will continue as District expenditures are projected to increase by 6.01% from the current fiscal year (fiscal year 2024) to next year’s fiscal year (fiscal year 2025).
So what does this mean? This is why the district is asking for support on the renewal 5.9M levy and not a half levy. A half levy is a bandaid to the situation and would cause the need to have to come back to the voters for new money in a new levy, ie; Medina City Schools.
Much like the citizens of Strongsville, the district is not immune to inflation and rising costs which is why now more than ever we want to RENEW at the average home costs from 2019!
If it fails, as outlined above with deficit spending to begin in fiscal year 2025 (July 2024) in the next 6 months…the district will be forced to cut back student programs, clubs and opportunities such as intramurals, student clubs, student groups, transportation for all students that share the Strongsville busing and more
FACTS
MATTER!!!
NO NEW TAXES
This Renewal Levy is based on home property values from 2019, not at the current increased rates of the housing market.
The reason why the majority of Renewal Levies pass is because they are renewing what was already passed in a prior year. This Renewal Levy is no different and is renewing what was passed in 2019, and by passing this, it renews the valuations that were used in 2019 not the increases that we see today. If this fails, we will be forced to put a new Levy on the ballot that would cost the taxpayers the increased values that we have seen from 2019. Why would we want to do that to taxpayers?
The taxes you pay today, you will pay tomorrow once this Renewal Levy is passed…it will not increase your taxes and will do the opposite as stated above.
STRONG SCHOOLS, STRONG PROPERTY VALUES
The Strongsville citizens have always taken pride in the strength of our school system as that helps support the community in safety, property value, and the overall positive community that we live in every day.
FACTS
MATTER!!!
OUR SCHOOLS ARE MAINTAINING A CASH RESERVE
Facts matter, and cash balances fluctuate at any given time based on a school district’s financial history and where they are in their levy cycle.
For example, Medina City Schools had one of the largest cash balance reserves percentages in comparison to the budget during Fiscal Year 2022 (July 2021-June 2022). As has now been reported in the latest Cleveland.com article of December 19th, 2023, Medina City Schools is now facing a major cash deficit as expenditures have increased, and they were forced to go back to the voters in November for a new money levy. Strongsville does not want to find ourselves in that position.
The forecasted ending cash balance for Fiscal Year 2024 this June is 46.1M, and then starting in Fiscal Year 2025 this July, we expect that we will start to cut into that cash reserve. 25M has been set aside into a capital projects fund for future projects to support the students, such as updating schools, athletic facilities, and programs for the arts.
FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 FORECAST SUMMARY
FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024
FORECAST SUMMARY
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Continue the Excellence
12468 Saddlebrook Ln
Strongsville, OH 44149
Paid for by Continue the Excellence. A committee of concerned Strongsville parents and citizens for the benefit of Strongsville City Schools.
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