We wanted to illustrate how the Lake County political sub-divisions are relying very heavily on property taxes for their funding. Here is a definition of a political sub-division: “POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS are local governments created by the states to help fulfill their… Read More ›
Real Estate Taxes
Proposed Property Tax Legislation…updated 10/15/19
We have found a piece of legislation proposed by State Senator Kristna Roegner (District 27 – Akron area) dealing with property taxes. SB No 216 proposed bill “To amend sections 319.302 and 5705.211 and to enact sections 323.1510 and 4503.0612… Read More ›
Looking Into Our Crystal Ball…housing affordability
As a follow-up to our last article on the Housing Affordability Threshold, we wanted to see what the future holds for Lake County seniors regarding the possibilities of being priced out of their homes due to increasing property taxes. Here… Read More ›
Housing Affordability Threshold…the “take-aways”
We have been asked once again to discuss the Housing Affordability Threshold %; how it is calculated, and why is it important to the taxpayers? We started on this journey after discovering the ~40% increase in this writer’s property taxes… Read More ›
Follow-up with the State Auditor’s Office
We followed-up with the State of Ohio Auditor’s office. We wanted to be sure that the received our first message regarding the current problems in the Lake County Auditor’s office. Here is the email we sent to them: This is… Read More ›
Who is Derek Merrin?…a legislator fighting for us
Who is Derek Merrin? Derek Merrin is the state representative for the 47th District of the Ohio House of Representatives. He is a Republican. The district comprises portions of Fulton County and Lucas County. He caught our attention when we… Read More ›
Kirtland School Levies…
Here are the current Kirtland School District’s levies. You will see that they also have a levy passed in 1976 for 42.95 mills that now has an effective tax rate of 12.110783 for Class 1 (residential/agricultural) property. It appears Superintendent… Read More ›
W-E School Levies…
We had a request for information about the existing Willoughby-Eastlake School District’s property tax levies. Here is the Lake County Auditor’s Schedule A that provides the details. Please note that the school district likes the “emergency” levies because they are… Read More ›
Concord Taxing District 8-9-10…how your property taxes have grown
By request, we are providing the property tax schedules comparing 2018 vs 2008 for Concord Township’s taxing districts 8, 9, 10, and in total. You will see that the taxing district revolves around the school district and public library that… Read More ›
Wickliffe Real Estate Taxes…taxing district 29
We were asked by a Wickliffe lobbyist if we had any information on real estates taxes, specifically for Wickliffe schools. Here is what we have on file for those in taxing district 29. You can find your taxing district on… Read More ›
W-E School Cover-Up….updated 9/20/19
We asked Mr. Thompson, Willoughby-Eastlake School Superintendent, for the chart that the school Treasurer showed at the last school board meeting. He sent the following chart to us. We, respectfully, disagree. This is not the chart that we remember being… Read More ›
W-E Schools…5 Year Financial Forecast
From the Willoughby-Eastlake website we found their 5 year financial forecast… http://fyf.oecn.k12.oh.us/genForecast.asp?IRN=45104&Format=HTML Here are some interesting numbers from the report: Category 2016 … Read More ›
Why Do Schools Keep Asking for Money?…we are way past the 3 R’s
Our last analysis of the Lake County Property Taxes by political sub-division revealed that ~68% of all property taxes (Class 1, Class 2, Class 3) are for schools. We wanted to make everyone aware of a book, given to us… Read More ›
Affordable Concord Taxes…a more sensible solution is needed
We are pleased to support the efforts of Concord’s ‘Affordable Concord Taxes’ group of dedicated volunteers by spreading the word about their fundraiser. Like any venture it takes money to get the word to the people. We ask that you… Read More ›
Continuing Property Tax Levies…”forever is a very long time”
We were asked by the Tax Working Group https://taxwg.com for our opinion on property tax levies that are “continuous” rather than for a fixed period of time. The freedoms listed in the U.S. Constitution should be forever, the ability of politicians and… Read More ›
Painesville City Police Levy…displaying lack of candor
We were given this “fact sheet” about the 2.5 mill five year Painesville City police levy. Painesville City Police Levy Someone in the police department is trying to provide the reasons why voters should pass the levy, and in our… Read More ›
Auditor Error…Kirtland Schools impacted
Updated: 8/28/19 We thank the lobbyist that made us aware of the Lake County Auditor’s ‘glitch’ that impacted Kirtland schools. It is important to note that the correct amount of taxes were collected from the taxpayers, but a human error… Read More ›
Lake County Financing District…”Are You Ready to Cry Uncle?”
On the November 5th ballot, taxpayers in the Madison, Painesville, Perry, and Riverside School districts will be asked to pass a 4.90 mill renewal levy for the Lake County School Financing District. The effective millage on this levy has… Read More ›
Just Say No…
This pretty much sums it up for us. Politicians and bureaucrats must learn that we are “tapped out”, and cannot continue to support ever-increasing property taxes. Be wary of politicians and bureaucrats that do not want to be held accountable… Read More ›
Inside Millage…It can be confusing
We continue to review the Lake County Auditor’s Schedule A’s of the various Lake County school districts. Here is Riverside School District: RIVERSIDE SCHEDULE A 2018 – 2019 Here is Wickliffe City School District: WICKLIFFE SCHEDULE A 2018 – 2019… Read More ›
November Ballot Issues…”it is raining tax levies”…
There appears to be no end in sight for the deluge of property tax levies that will create a “flood” that will ultimately cause some of those living on fixed incomes to lose their homes! Ladies and gentlemen…it is simply… Read More ›
Willoughby-Eastlake School Levy…Just say NO
Here is an opinion expressed in the News-Herald about Seniors and property tax levies. Voting no on W-E Schools levy: I have never had children in the Willoughby-Eastlake School system, but have always gone out on voting day and supported… Read More ›
Bailout Energy Bill Passes….Ohio Taxpayers Get “Shocked and Shorted”
Another hard-hitting, “tell it like it is” article from our friend Diane Jones at Auburntownship.org. She opines on House Bill 6, the bailout bill for the energy companies, and let our elected officials know what she thinks about their continual… Read More ›
Concord S.O.S……..”Save Our Seniors”
We would be remiss if we did not discuss, once again, the Concord Township 28 year, .83 mill bond levy to be on the November, 2019 ballot for a new fire station. The lack of fiscal responsibility by the Concord… Read More ›
Property Valuations…Who does it in Lake County?
A citizen in the Willoughby-Eastlake school district asked us if there is any truth to the allegation that the W-E school district has their own real estate appraisers and continual look through the property tax roles to ensure that property… Read More ›