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School board thanks council for three‑year tax collaboration that kept rates flat
Summary
Beachwood Board of Education President Megan Walsh and Treasurer Matt Brown thanked the council for a three‑year arrangement in which the city forewent 2.4 mills and the district financed bonds at the same 2.4 mills so taxpayers saw no net increase in the effective tax rate; settlement funds will offset future collections for the elementary school project.
Megan Walsh, president of the Beachwood Board of Education, told the Beachwood City Council on Aug. 4 that a three‑year collaboration between the city and the school district helped taxpayers avoid an increase in effective property tax rates while allowing the district to finance construction of two new elementary schools. Walsh spoke alongside Treasurer Matt Brown and the district’s superintendent, who were in the council chambers for the special meeting.
Walsh said the district financed school bonds at 2.4 mills while the city agreed not to collect an equivalent 2.4 mills during tax years 2023–2025. Brown told council the arrangement allowed the district to structure borrowing so that the anticipated increase in the school tax rate did not exceed the amount the city elected to forego.
Brown also said the district intends to use a portion of funds secured in a settlement with Warrensville Heights related to Chagrin Highlands property tax revenues to offset any future increases tied to paying for the new elementary buildings. Both Walsh and Brown described the effort as a partnership that preserved low taxes for residents while funding necessary school construction.
Council members thanked the school representatives and asked that any follow‑up data or materials be shared with the mayor and administration so the city and schools can continue coordinating. The council’s remarks emphasized the role that local schools play in attracting families to Beachwood and noted appreciation for the collaborative approach.
The council did not take any formal action on the financing during the meeting; the presentation was an informational acknowledgment and a public thank‑you from the district leaders.
