County HallWednesday, November 11
Cuyahoga County voters approved $111 million more a year for social services
The 5AM Cleveland team
If you rely on county health and human services, voters just gave them a boost: Issue 11 brings in an additional $111 million a year. County Executive Chris Ronayne's 2027 budget update, released Tuesday, doesn't count it, because it was prepared before the Nov. 3 results were known. Council President Dale Miller said council will work to reverse $16 million in proposed cuts. “I expect that we’ll restore practically all of that,” Miller said.
The levy by the numbers
- $111 million
- more a year for health and human services
- $16 million
- in proposed cuts council expects to mostly reverse
- $260 million+
- in yearly levy collections once the new money arrives
Source: Cleveland.com
Don't expect a spending spree. Miller said the county is taking a conservative approach and making a plan to build reserves over the levy's 10-year life, and it hopes to have one ready for the 2028 and 2029 budget process. The ADAMHS Board asked for roughly $14 million more a year, but Miller said any extra “won’t be anything close to what they’re requesting.”
- Levy cost: $87.50 per $100,000 of property value
- Voter support: about 60% of county voters
- 2027 general fund deficit: $89,218, down from $19.2 million
- Council review of department budgets: coming weeks
Sales tax is the biggest piece of the county's brighter outlook
Source: Cleveland.com
View as table
| Value | |
|---|---|
| Sales tax | $19.5 million |
| Investment interest | $6.3 million |
| Property tax collections | $2.1 million |
Sources: Cleveland.com, Signal Cleveland