Strongsville board approves submitting $147.65M school‑improvement bond to May ballot

The Strongsville City School District board voted Jan. 22 to submit a $147,650,000 school improvement bond issue to district voters on the May 5, 2026 ballot. The resolution, moved and seconded at the meeting, accepts the county auditor’s valuation and authorizes the treasurer to file the ballot language with the board of elections.

Treasurer George walked the board through the procedural steps already taken: an earlier certification to the county tax commissioner and a subsequent calculation of the millage required. Based on the county’s valuation and the district’s financing assumptions (36‑year term, an illustrative 5% interest rate), the tax impact was estimated at 3.43 mills — which the treasurer said equates to approximately $120 per $100,000 of county auditor market value under the current methodology.

Board discussion emphasized need and reasonableness. One board member said the district still has trailers at elementary schools and argued the bond project is necessary; another described a three‑part test (need, reasonableness, stewardship) and concluded the measure passes. The board took a roll‑call vote; the motion carried on recorded affirmative votes in the roll call.

The board did not set a revised millage rate beyond the certification figures presented; the treasurer said the certification and official millage calculations will accompany the board’s filing with the county and that costs and timelines were discussed in earlier committee work. The measure will appear on the May 5 ballot if the board’s filing proceeds as authorized.