Northeast Ohio Park Levies Pass in 12 Communities While Ashtabula County Rejects Metroparks Tax
Voters across nine Northeast Ohio counties approved 12 out of 15 local municipal parks and recreation levies on Tuesday, according to unofficial results reported by ideastream.org. The mixed ballot outcomes pit broad local support for neighborhood and township green spaces against a decisive rejection of a major county-wide park district funding request.
Ashtabula County voters struck down an additional 0.5-mill property tax levy designed to fund the Ashtabula County Metroparks for 15 years. The measure failed with 54% of voters saying no, falling short of generating the $1.28 million annually needed for daily operations, trail repairs, and park programming.
Conneaut, Jefferson, and Saybrook Township Pass Local Park Measures
While the broader county metropark levy failed, smaller municipal and township park districts inside Ashtabula County secured voter approval. Conneaut Township voters approved an additional 1.25-mill levy for their local park district with 54% of the vote. Saybrook Township Park District passed a three-year, 0.5-mill renewal levy with 58% support to maintain current operating expenses. In Jefferson Village, Issue 12 passed with 63% of the vote, renewing a 1-mill property tax to fund local parks and recreation.
Voters Approve Salem and Bellevue Park Levies While Rejecting North Fairfield Measure
In Columbiana County, the city of Salem passed a 1.3-mill renewal levy with 59% of the vote to support parks and recreation for five years, bringing in nearly $236,000 annually. Huron County split its two park measures: Bellevue voters approved a 1-mill renewal levy by 60%, costing homeowners $17 annually per $100,000 of property valuation, while North Fairfield voters rejected a 2-mill additional levy with 56% voting against it.
Additional Northeast Ohio park measures won approval across multiple counties. The Warren Township Park District in Jefferson County passed a 1-mill, five-year tax levy with 66% of the vote. Danville Village in Knox County renewed its 1-mill park levy with 65% support. In Lake County, the city of Willowick passed a 0.5-mill renewal levy with 63% of the vote, collecting $70,824 annually. Richland County saw successful renewal levies in Shelby at 63% and Lexington at 55%. Hubbard Township in Trumbull County passed an additional 1.07-mill tax levy for Harding Park with 53% of the vote. Tuscarawas County voters split their two decisions, passing a 1-mill renewal levy in the village of Tuscarawas with 57% of the vote, but defeating a 2.4-mill additional levy in New Philadelphia where 63% of voters opposed the measure.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Northeast Ohio Park Ballots
Why did the Ashtabula County Metroparks levy fail while smaller local park levies passed?
The 15-year, 0.5-mill county-wide tax faced broader opposition, failing with 54% of voters saying no, whereas voters in specific townships and villages like Conneaut, Saybrook, and Jefferson narrowly approved localized renewal and additional levies tailored to their immediate neighborhood facilities.
How much will the approved levy in Bellevue cost local homeowners?
Bellevue’s 1-mill renewal levy, which passed with 60% of the vote, will cost homeowners $17 annually for every $100,000 of property valuation.
What specific revenue was Salem expecting from its park renewal levy?
The city of Salem expected its 5-year, 1.3-mill renewal levy to generate nearly $236,000 in revenue each year to support parks and recreation.