Citizens for Property Tax Reform argues that Ohio’s property tax system is unfair, as reassessing people’s homes at a much higher value brings them no immediate financial benefit but forces them to pay a lot more in taxes. Now the Cuyahoga County-based group can begin to collect the 413,000 signatures it needs to put an amendment on the ballot to eliminate the taxes statewide. In Cuyahoga County, property values last year jumped an average of 32%. That’s brought millions of unexpected extra dollars to local governments, schools, park and library districts. Since 2019, statewide collections of residential and commercial property taxes have surged from about $15.6 billion to $20.3 billion. Voters get a say on property taxes at the ballot box, choosing whether to approve or deny specific tax levies. If the amendment succeeds, what will happen to the services they fund, especially public schools? They’ll be forced to cut huge swaths of their operating budgets or raise local income and sales taxes. — Laura |
Overnight Scores and Weather |
Guardians vs. Milwaukee Brewers: The Guardians' bullpen allowed seven runs as Cleveland lost the series finale to Milwaukee, 9-5, on Wednesday afternoon. Northeast Ohio weather forecast: Storms forecasted for late Thursday into Friday |
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A couple dozen people gathered outside the Cuyahoga County administrative headquarters in downtown Cleveland on Thursday morning, March 27, 2025, to protest rising property taxes in Cuyahoga County. David Petkiewicz, cleveland.comDavid Petkiewicz, cleveland.com |
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Property taxes: Backers of a proposed state constitutional amendment to eliminate property taxes in Ohio got the go-ahead Wednesday to begin collecting the roughly 413,000 signatures needed to put the measure before voters. Jeremy Pelzer reports that the Ohio Ballot Board unanimously agreed that the proposed amendment contained just a single issue and not multiple issues.
Paid leave: Cuyahoga County recently fired a corrections lieutenant accused of sexual misconduct toward multiple female officers under his supervision, but officials have not explained why the process took two years and cost taxpayers more than $200,000, reports Kaitlin Durbin.
Today in Ohio: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell came to Ohio this week to pitch the Browns’ plan for a covered stadium in in Brook Park. We’re talking about what that means for the $2.4 billion project on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
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Phone ban: The Ohio Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would generally ban students’ cell phone use during school instructional time, reports Laura Hancock. Senate Bill 158 passed 38 to 2. It now heads to the Ohio House.
School food: An anti-hunger coalition that originally wanted $300 million from state lawmakers to cover free school breakfasts and lunches for all Ohio students has offered a slimmed-down proposal. Laura Hancock reports that the plan designates $33 million in state money to access a federal program that would provide local schools with $47 million for free breakfasts and lunches.
Ranked choice: Ranked choice voting would effectively be banned in the state under a bipartisan bill the Ohio Senate passed Wednesday in a 27-5 vote. Anna Staver reports that supporters of Senate Bill 63, which passed late last month out of the Senate General Government Committee 5-1, say ranked choice voting is confusing, costly and undermines trust in election outcomes.
NIL: College athletes could soon be shielded from long-term name, image and likeness (NIL) deals under a bill that passed the Ohio House Wednesday in a rare unanimous vote. Anna Staver reports House Bill 184 would prohibit NIL contracts from extending beyond a student’s time in college -- a move supporters say is necessary to prevent companies from locking young athletes into unfair agreements.
Police week: Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday decried the “senseless” killing of Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson as he marked National Police Week by welcoming several dozen police officers to a breakfast at his official residence. Sabrina Eaton reports that during police week, law enforcement officers from around the country visit Washington to lobby lawmakers on police matters and participate in ceremonies that honor officers who have died in the line of duty. Lawmakers use the occasion to introduce police-related bills.
Resignation requested: A Republican state representative from the Dayton area has been asked to resign by Ohio House leadership after he was investigated for sexual misconduct allegations by a minor family member. Anna Staver reports state Rep. Rodney Creech was not charged criminally and says this is an “old, false allegation” being brought up by political opponents to stop him from running for state Senate in 2026.
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CVNP: “Greetings From Cuyahoga Valley National Park.” “Now With Reduced Staff” and “Made Possible By $DOGE.” Peter Krouse reports that more than 70 of the billboards have gone up in Ohio this month, as part of a national campaign drawing attention to potentially massive budget cuts to the national parks. Paper mill: The former owners of a paper mill that’s now located inside the Cuyahoga Valley National Park agreed to pay $16.5 million to settle a dispute with the federal government over who was responsible for the site’s environmental cleanup. Adam Ferrise reports that Paddock Enterprises, a successor to a company that owned the Jaite Mill property, initially sued in 2022, arguing that it shouldn’t be held responsible for the $45 million the U.S. EPA had initially sought for remediation of the site.
House rentals: Cleveland is looking at ways to crack down on short-term rentals found on platforms like Airbnb, but the exact details of the legislation are still being tweaked, a year after it was first written. Sean McDonnell reports that the proposed law, first introduced last May, will go back to the drawing board after a two-hour discussion at Council’s zoning committee Tuesday.
Bay lacrosse: Officials say a Bay High School lacrosse player died last week from a serious injury to his head, reports Lucas Daprile. Dylan Veselic, 16, suffered from a “blunt force craniocervical injury,” meaning he was struck in the back of the head near where the neck meets the skull.
Parma superintendent: Parma schools is expected to narrow the search for its next superintendent to two finalists this week. Cory Shaffer reports the district will interview eight people to replace outgoing Superintendent Charles Smialek on Thursday before announcing the final two candidates on Friday.
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L.L. Bean: L.L. Bean, the iconic outdoor retailer known for its rugged apparel and gear, will open a new location at Crocker Park in Westlake this fall, the company announced Wednesday. Molly Walsh reports the store will be located at 292 Main Street, taking over the former buybuyBABY space.
Westlake airline: CommuteAir, United’s key regional partners, has 60 aircraft and 250 daily departures. Susan Glaser reports the company celebrated its past and future at the grand opening of its new corporate headquarters in Westlake, which includes 30,000 square feet of office and operational space across the street from Crocker Park.
Geico: National insurance giant Geico has just opened a new corporate hub in the Cleveland area, further expanding its presence across the country, reports Megan Sims. The 6,300 square-foot office in the Landmark Centre will soon be home to more than 50 employees in various corporate roles.
Mark Johnson: An attorney representing fired WEWS Channel 5 meterologist Mark Johnson has issued a statement defending his client, calling him “a model employee and citizen” and saying that his “termination was unfounded and disappointing,” reports Peter Chakerian.
MetroHealth board: MetroHealth System board chair Dr. E. Harry Walker – who led the hospital system through much of its recent upheaval – was reappointed as a board member in a Cuyahoga County Council vote Tuesday, reports Julie Washington. |
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Meth seizure: Authorities on Tuesday concluded a yearlong investigation that ended with three arrests and the seizure of 28 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, firearms and other illegal narcotics, reports Olivia Mitchell. The investigation began as a complaint in March 2024, when authorities received information that a group supplied drugs to neighborhoods on the West Side of Cleveland. Spraypaint: The owner of Algebra Tea House and two other pro-Palestinian protesters sued Case Western Reserve University on Wednesday over contractors spraying protesters with paint on campus. Video of the May 7, 2024, incident went viral after it showed protesters getting doused with paint, reports Adam Ferrise.
Excessive force: A Lorain County corrections officer was fired last month after an excessive force incident led to an inmate getting out of his cell, reports Lucas Daprile. On Dec. 29, 2024, as jail staff served lunch, an inmate threw feces on officer Christopher Jackson. Jackson then ordered the inmate’s door open, and he then went into fight the inmate, according to the sheriff’s department.
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Best delis: Your “Best of Cleveland” Team is on the hunt for the best deli in our area. That place you can’t resist, with beautifully cured meats and cheeses, great granary, signature items, salads, sides and more.
Superman trailer: The release of James Gunn’s “Superman” film is less than two months away and now DC Studios’ juggernaut has a new trailer out today. Peter Chakerian reports that Cleveland is all over it.
Star Wars: The special exhibition hall at COSI, the science museum in Columbus, has been transformed into an elaborate walk-through stage set from the Star Wars universe, with scenes from Tatooine, Hoth and Jabba’s Palace. Susan Glaser reports there’s even a working cantina.
Fidelity Hotel: Daniel Young has joined the five-month-old boutique Fidelity Hotel as executive chef. He replaces Chef Eddie Zaler who helped open the hotel, reports Paris Wolfe.
Tres Leches cake: Four years ago, Phil “Felipe” Davis got a call from his daughter Mikia, asking for a Tres Leches cake. Paris Wolfe reports that in January, he opened Tres Leches Café in the Carnegie Food Hub, a ghost kitchen complex just east of downtown Cleveland.
Wine fest: Crocker Park Wine Festival is scheduled Sept. 12-13, reports Marc Bona. The festival will feature more than 150 local, national and international wine producers, along with beer, spirits, local vendors, food vendors and live music. |
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Attorney accused of killing client Aliza Sherman will return to Ohio after waiving extradition Read more Cleveland City Council gets fresh details on $1.6 billion Hopkins airport project Read more Trump decides whether Cleveland will receive $28M in federal housing aid Read more Cleveland firefighter arrested at fire station, charged with felonious assault Read more |
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Terry's Talkin' with Terry Pluto Newsletter |
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