Cleveland City Council approves property tax increase

The Cleveland City Council met yesterday and approved a 3.16-cent property tax increase to fund construction of an elementary school, a transitional housing facility, an aquatic center, and the widening of Mouse Creek Road.

The measure passed 4-3, raising the 2025 certified tax rate to $1.2632 per $100 of assessed value. Council members Marsha McKenzie, Bill Estes, Tom Cassada, and Ken Webb voted in favor of the increase. Duane Goff, Dan Moore, and David May voted against the increase. 

Members of the community showed up to both speak in favor of an increase and against. 

Councilman Duane Goff addressed the council in opposition to a tax increase. Here is a portion of what he had to say. CLIP. 

Prior to the final vote, council members proposed several different tax hike options ranging from 2 to just over 10 cents, tied to various infrastructure priorities. Councilman Tom Cassada offered three separate motions, plus a substitute motion, that did not receive a second from a fellow member, thus killing the motions. A later motion from Cassada, seconded by Vice Mayor Webb, failed in a 4-3 vote.

Councilman Bill Estes also made a motion, seconded by Cassada, for a different tax increase, which also failed 4-3.

Ultimately, it was Councilwoman Marsha McKenzie—who had previously opposed other tax hike proposals—who introduced the successful motion. Her proposal consolidated key projects into a single plan and passed with the support of Webb, Cassada, and Estes. WCLE’s Gideon Ratcliff caught up with Councilwoman McKenzie and here is what she had to say about her eventual support for the tax increase: CLIP

The new property tax rate will be $1.2632 per $100 of assessed value, up from the state-certified rate of $1.2316.