Charter amendments, school levy on November ballot

by Laura Bednar

Independence voters will see proposed charter amendments for the city and county on the Nov. 3 ballot, along with a levy renewal for Independence Local Schools.

Issue 7 is a tax levy renewal that benefits the school district’s permanent improvement fund, which is used for infrastructure projects. The county fiscal officer estimates the 1.25-mill levy will collect $587,996 annually, which will cost taxpayers $26 for each $100,000 of county-appraised property value. The levy would run for five years, beginning in 2027 with first collections in 2028.

Independence City Council placed four charter amendments on the ballot based on a recommendation from the charter review commission.

Issue 42 would remove the requirement that the mayor preside over meetings of council; he/she would only attend them.

Issue 43 would make the finance director a mayoral appointed position rather than an elected official, subject to majority council approval. A person could serve until he or she resigns, dies or is removed by council. The position would also require a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of experience in government accounting or public finance.

Issue 44 would amend the charter so a majority of city council, rather than the mayor, would appoint three citizen members to the planning commission.

Issue 45 would prevent council from passing zoning ordinances, regulations or amendments as emergency legislation. Emergency legislation takes effect immediately and is “necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety,” according to the city charter.

County issues

Cuyahoga County is proposing three charter amendments.

Issue 12 would require that county council confirm the county executive’s removal of members of boards, agencies, commissions and authorities.

Issue 13 would prevent the county from splitting non-litigation responsibilities between the county prosecuting attorney and county law director. The law director would provide representation on labor negotiations, grievances and arbitrations, non-litigation-related employment matters, public records matters, risk management functions and activities and non-litigation-related contracts, agreements, debt issuance documents, memoranda of understanding and purchase orders. The prosecutor would only handle litigation and court proceedings on behalf of the county.

Issue 14 would amend the charter to discontinue the practice of the county executive appointing all members of the charter review commission. The county executive instead would appoint four members without county council approval and one with council approval. County council, not subject to county executive approval, would appoint four members.

There are also two levies up for a vote.

Issue 10 is an additional levy for the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities for program operations and the acquisition, construction, renovation, financing, maintenance and operation of facilities. The county fiscal officer estimates the 2.25-mill levy will collect almost $99.7 million annually, which will cost taxpayers $79 per $100,000 of county-appraised property value. The levy would run for 10 years with first collections in 2027.

Issue 11 is a tax renewal and increase for Cuyahoga County Health and Human Services to supplement its general fund. The levy asks voters to renew 4.7 mills and increase it by 2.25 mills, which will generate $261 million annually, according to the county fiscal officer. The total 7.2-mill levy will cost taxpayers $196 per $100,000 of county-appraised property value and run for 10 years with collections starting in 2027.