Cleveland Metroparks Placing Levy on November Ballot

Editor's note: Patch Editor Lori E. Switaj contributed this report.

Cleveland Metroparks Board of Park Commissioners voted on July 16 to place a 10-year levy on the Nov. 5 General Election ballot.

The levy will be a 1.8-mill renewal with a .09-mill increase.

Currently, homeowners pay $64 per year per $100,000 home valuation. Metropark spokesperson Sue Allen said if approved, homeowners will pay $94 per year on the same valuation.

Allen said levy dollars represent approximately 62 percent of the Park District's annual $89 million annual budget.

The Park District is asking voters to renew the existing 1.8-mill levy that was approved in 2004 that will fund ongoing operations and maintenance of Cleveland Metroparks' nearly 23,000 acres which includes 18 park reservations, miles of trails and the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

The Metroparks maintain the North Chagrin Reservation in Mayfield Village, Willoughby Hills, and Gates Mills Village.

The slight increase is necessary to offset declining property values and a reduction in state funding, Allen said.

If passed, collection for money generated from the new levy will begin in January 2014.