Lakewood board approves corrected levy resolution after county certification typo

The Lakewood City Board of Education unanimously approved a replacement resolution on Feb. 2 that repeals and replaces a Jan. 22 levy resolution after the county fiscal office identified a typographical error in the district’s certified taxable property value.

Treasurer Rohde told the board the error related only to the numeric taxable‑value figure and "does not change the proposed millage, the purpose of the levy, or the estimated cost to taxpayers." The corrected district taxable value was stated as $1,786,727,540; the original resolution had reflected $1,786,758,310, a county certification typo Rohde said the replacement resolves.

The resolution submits an additional 6.9 mills for current operating expenses under Section 5705.21 of the Revised Code. The board and administration said the levy would provide resources to expand academic programming, retain and recruit professional staff, expand the preschool program and maintain district facilities. By law the question must be approved by the electors; the levy, if approved by voters, will be first assessed in tax year 2026 and collected in 2027.

Board materials note that, because of prior refinancing and an expiring portion of an existing levy, two mills of previously approved debt‑service millage will no longer be collected beginning in tax year 2026. When those changes are considered together, the practical tax impact for collection year 2027 will be 4.9 mills. Rohde and board presenters provided an estimate that this change "equates to approximately $14 per month on a $100,000 home" or about $172 a year.

Mrs. Katzenberger moved the replacement resolution and the board recorded a roll call vote in which trustees signified approval. Board members were advised the replacement resolution would be submitted to the appropriate county offices ahead of the ballot‑access deadline noted in the meeting.