Mayfield School District Voters Pass Levy

residents approved a 5.9 mill levy in Tuesday's primary election.

The 5.9 mill levy will raise $7.8 million annually and cost homeowners $180.68 for each $100,000 of property valuation. The levy was split – 5.4 mills for operating expenses and 0.5 mills for permanent improvements.

The district's previous levy, for 6.9 mills, was approved by voters in 2008.

Final, unofficial results from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, were:

Issue 11

"I am very pleased that the Mayfield community has decided to continue to invest in our community, our children and their future," school board President Sue Groszek said. "These are very hard times. People making the commitment they need to make for their future in hard times is a testament to the quality of Mayfield people."

This was the final levy campaign for Superintendent Phillip Price, who is retiring this summer. He was pleased that his replacement will come to a district that recently passed a levy.

"It's one of the things I can really do for the person coming in," he said. "I'm really pleased for the district. It's a real statement about what kind of people live here and their commitment to the community."

District Treasurer Scott Snyder said one message that resonated with the public during the campaign was that the district ranks 22nd in total tax millage among the 31 school systems in Cuyahoga County. The district is tied for 21st with East Cleveland at 40.19 mills, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation.

School officials also emphasized that the state cut funding to the district last July by $4.74 million over two years. Starting in 2013, state support will be cut by another $4.61 million and the district will be getting less than 2 percent of its $63.7 million annual budget from the state.

Officials said that if Issue 11 failed, cut will include reduced field trips, staff reductions, class size increases, reinstatement of pay-to-play, increased fees, textbook and technology reductions, according to Price.