Real estate taxes and schools

[Marguerite Harkness]

Yes, our real estate taxes are VERY high compared to other nearby communities. The reason is, high taxes to support our schools.

Two or three years ago when Westlake built its new high school, I asked one of their teachers, "Are you going to have modulars in the meantime?"
She replied, "No, they are going to demolish the school during the summer, build the new, and open the new school in September."
What??? REALLY??

I realize I can't compare smaller Westlake High School with our large and sprawling Lakewood High School--but Westlake and our largest elementary would have been rather comparable. Or one of our rehabbed middle-to-elementary schools.

So Westlake built a brand new high school in three months, and we couldn't even build ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL over a summer break.

How did we get suckered into believing our School Board that all of this construction had to be stretched out so far?
What in excess, did this cost us?

And we now know that the high school construction is $6 million over budget--even though prior to the election, the Board said the finances were "just fine". So they were hiding it.

[Lori Allen _]

Marquerite,

I believe that most of the school board members are friends of Mr. Summers.

That just about says it all!

P.S. I believe that the schools will be asking the tax payers for more money sometime in 2018. Soon after, since council and Mr. Summers stole our hospital, they will be hitting us up for more city tax money.

Way to go council and Summers! You guys are geniuses!

[Michael Deneen]

I don't remember all the details, but the reason that the construction process took so log is tied to the fact that Ohio paid a large share of the cost.
In accordance with state policies, they could only get so much Ohio money at a time....I believe there were three separate installments.
Each of those installments required a construction levy be passed by the voters.

Frankly I don't think the construction has taken unusually long.....if you look at Cleveland, their process is taking even longer because of the large size of their building stock. It took YEARS for them to finally replace John Marshall High School, which recently re-opened.

Other than the High School, each building took about two years....I know that Hayes had two years "away". The High School was done in large chunks....I don't see any feasible way that the whole thing could have ever been done over a summer or two.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I don't remember all the details, but the reason that the construction process took so log is tied to the fact that Ohio paid a large share of the cost.
In accordance with state policies, they could only get so much Ohio money at a time....I believe there were three separate installments.
Each of those installments required a construction levy be passed by the voters.

Mike

I believe that is correct. I will check.

Over the 12 years if school rebuilding, I also believe everything was on a prearrange schedule.

Mike was on the school board during the fundraising and construction. Jay Foran was also involved. They did a good job on this, as did the board and all superintendents.

Are taxes are high, but not the highest, and Lakewoodites dedication to Schools and Libraries is a very good thing.

IMHO

.

[John Myers]

Two or three years ago when Westlake built its new high school, I asked one of their teachers, "Are you going to have modulars in the meantime?"
She replied, "No, they are going to demolish the school during the summer, build the new, and open the new school in September."
What??? REALLY??

I realize I can't compare smaller Westlake High School with our large and sprawling Lakewood High School--but Westlake and our largest elementary would have been rather comparable. Or one of our rehabbed middle-to-elementary schools.

So Westlake built a brand new high school in three months, and we couldn't even build ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL over a summer break.

I'm going to assume that the above regarding construction timelines was not posted ironically.

That's not at all how construction unfolded at the new Westlake High.

Around 2005, Westlake High School built a new Performing Arts Center, a gymnasium, and TV studios. These facilities were added on to the west end of Westlake High School. Around 2010, the Westlake community passed a bond issue to, among other things, remodel elementary buildings, build a new grade 7 and 8 middle school building, and build a new high school. The new middle school was built next to the then current Lee Burneson middle school. Grades 7 and 8 moved across the parking lot to a new building when it was complete. Grades 5 and 6 moved from Parkside Intermediate on Hilliard to the former LBMS, and the four neighborhood elementary buildings stayed in place, housing grades K-4 at each.

In regards to the high school, as I mentioned, the PAC was built at the far west end of the "old" Westlake High. It was used as the starting point for the new building. New construction occurred to the west of the then existing high school, on the same plot of land. At the conclusion of the 2012-13 school year, everything was moved out of the old WHS and into the new building. The old building, everything east of the PAC, was demolished over the summer, after the student body was given the opportunity to vandalize the interior of the building (really).

In short, Westlake's construction project was a multi-year venture. Like Lakewood, Rocky River, North Olmsted, and every other district that has built, or is building, new facilities. A new school can't be built in fewer than three months.

[T Peppard]

Two or three years ago when Westlake built its new high school, I asked one of their teachers, "Are you going to have modulars in the meantime?"
She replied, "No, they are going to demolish the school during the summer, build the new, and open the new school in September."
What??? REALLY??

I realize I can't compare smaller Westlake High School with our large and sprawling Lakewood High School--but Westlake and our largest elementary would have been rather comparable. Or one of our rehabbed middle-to-elementary schools.

So Westlake built a brand new high school in three months, and we couldn't even build ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL over a summer break.

I'm going to assume that the above regarding construction timelines was not posted ironically.

That's not at all how construction unfolded at the new Westlake High.

Around 2005, Westlake High School built a new Performing Arts Center, a gymnasium, and TV studios. These facilities were added on to the west end of Westlake High School. Around 2010, the Westlake community passed a bond issue to, among other things, remodel elementary buildings, build a new grade 7 and 8 middle school building, and build a new high school. The new middle school was built next to the then current Lee Burneson middle school. Grades 7 and 8 moved across the parking lot to a new building when it was complete. Grades 5 and 6 moved from Parkside Intermediate on Hilliard to the former LBMS, and the four neighborhood elementary buildings stayed in place, housing grades K-4 at each.

In regards to the high school, as I mentioned, the PAC was built at the far west end of the "old" Westlake High. It was used as the starting point for the new building. New construction occurred to the west of the then existing high school, on the same plot of land. At the conclusion of the 2012-13 school year, everything was moved out of the old WHS and into the new building. The old building, everything east of the PAC, was demolished over the summer, after the student body was given the opportunity to vandalize the interior of the building (really).

In short, Westlake's construction project was a multi-year venture. Like Lakewood, Rocky River, North Olmsted, and every other district that has built, or is building, new facilities. A new school can't be built in fewer than three months.

Thanks for the details, John. While the timeline may have been similar, I am troubled by the $6M shortfall. Was Westlake $6M dollars over budget?

It's fiscally irresponsible to expect the tax payers to compensate for a $6 million dollar mistake. In the end the schools & the community are hurt by this.

Three BOE members promoted the closure of the hospital. How could they expect us to survive a deficit when our city is down $1 million in income tax revenue? Raising our property taxes & privatizing the work of civil servants won't make a dent. I love Lakewood & hope better leadership can amend this.

[T Peppard]

Two or three years ago when Westlake built its new high school, I asked one of their teachers, "Are you going to have modulars in the meantime?"
She replied, "No, they are going to demolish the school during the summer, build the new, and open the new school in September."
What??? REALLY??

I realize I can't compare smaller Westlake High School with our large and sprawling Lakewood High School--but Westlake and our largest elementary would have been rather comparable. Or one of our rehabbed middle-to-elementary schools.

So Westlake built a brand new high school in three months, and we couldn't even build ONE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL over a summer break.

I'm going to assume that the above regarding construction timelines was not posted ironically.

That's not at all how construction unfolded at the new Westlake High.

Around 2005, Westlake High School built a new Performing Arts Center, a gymnasium, and TV studios. These facilities were added on to the west end of Westlake High School. Around 2010, the Westlake community passed a bond issue to, among other things, remodel elementary buildings, build a new grade 7 and 8 middle school building, and build a new high school. The new middle school was built next to the then current Lee Burneson middle school. Grades 7 and 8 moved across the parking lot to a new building when it was complete. Grades 5 and 6 moved from Parkside Intermediate on Hilliard to the former LBMS, and the four neighborhood elementary buildings stayed in place, housing grades K-4 at each.

In regards to the high school, as I mentioned, the PAC was built at the far west end of the "old" Westlake High. It was used as the starting point for the new building. New construction occurred to the west of the then existing high school, on the same plot of land. At the conclusion of the 2012-13 school year, everything was moved out of the old WHS and into the new building. The old building, everything east of the PAC, was demolished over the summer, after the student body was given the opportunity to vandalize the interior of the building (really).

In short, Westlake's construction project was a multi-year venture. Like Lakewood, Rocky River, North Olmsted, and every other district that has built, or is building, new facilities. A new school can't be built in fewer than three months.

Thanks for the details, John. While the timeline may have been similar, I am troubled by the $6M shortfall. Was Westlake $6M dollars over budget?

It's fiscally irresponsible to expect the tax payers to compensate for a $6 million dollar mistake. In the end the schools & the community are hurt by this.

Three BOE members promoted the closure of the hospital. How could they expect us to survive a deficit when our city is down $1 million in income tax revenue? Raising our property taxes & privatizing the work of civil servants won't make a dent. I love Lakewood & hope better leadership can amend this.

I need to correct what I said but can't edit it...
Raising our property taxes and privatizing the work of certain civil servants will make a dent depending on how high they raise our taxes and how much they privatize. It will hurt the men & women who have worked many years for the department of refuse & recycling. It will also hurt individuals like me who moved to Lakewood because it was "affordable" and it had "great schools."

[Marguerite Harkness]

John Myers, Thank you for your more informed report of the timing at Westlake. And the comprehensive list of all their re-building.

My info came from a teacher, a short-form response to my short-form comment and question.

I didn't know that the new HS was built first, then moved in over a short period, and then demolished the old.

I have been in their Performing Arts Center and it is really fine. I've been there for ballet and Shakespeare workshops.

I'm still concerned about our $6 million shortfall that was withheld from us until after the re-election of the board members responsible for that problem.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Back to Lakewood's $178 million dollars proof of liking educated children.

The program was broken into three sections so that the City of Lakewood could afford to build the entire deal. The City could have never floated a $100 million bond issue.

The State of Ohio was on the hook for at least 33%, of Lakewood costs, but not of that was to be paid until the very end of the build out.

TP

I will never figure out how BOE members signed off and supported a project NONE OF THEM HAD ANY FACTS ON.

According to their statements and City Hall statements,

.

[T Peppard]

I am very concerned about the future affordability of Lakewood and the effects to our schools and city services.

Iis my understanding that Ken Zeman has declared a financial emergency which will entail budget cuts next year. This declaration came after the state cut $600,000 from our budget. Is this correct?

In addition to this loss, we are $6 million dollars over budget with the new schools. Does anyone know what percentage this is of the entire demolition/ renovation budget?

[Tim Liston]

"Future affordability"???

I gave up writing about Lakewood property taxes years ago. In one ear and out the other, pretty much a waste of time. At least then it was. But get this: the property tax stream on a Lakewood home is already worth more than the home the taxes are levied on. Any home in Lakewood whose assessed value is anywhere near market. if you offered me either the home or its future property taxes, I'll take the future taxes, monetize and buy the home with it and pocket the difference. You think your home is "paid off?" Think again. You own 0% of it. The county owns it. All of it. You just rent it from them....

And to give a little context, I just read that Chicagoans are hitting the roof over another proposed property tax increase that will find their taxes at a level WAY under where Lakewood is now. Forget the future. We're there already. 3.2% annual property taxes is an outrage.

Lakewood is at the precipice of a "positive feedback loop." It sounds nice but it's not. What it means is that the taxes are going to deter many people from moving in, and even cause some people already here to relocate to lower tax areas. Then property values start to falter. So taxes go up somewhat more. Apply, lather, repeat. Positive feedback loops are self-reinforcing. They are also known as vicious circles. And Lakewood is headed there inexorably. Particularly when the only folks who consider moving here have 2-3 kids and consume much more in services than even inordinate property taxes can support. And everyone else heads out to Lorain County. Or in my case, Erie County, where property taxes are half of what they are here and the services and amenities just as good. Though admittedly I pay (gasp....) $25 a month to a private trash company and burn my sticks....

Can you tell I just got the property tax bill for my Lakewood home?

[Christine Gordillo]

Tara, here is the article where Treasurer Kent Zeman explains the District's financial situation:

http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index ... ure_1.html

Also, the $6 million overrun has long been resolved. The total cost of the construction project, which includes the three new elementaries and the high school is approximately $100 million.

Here is the story that explains how the gap was closed:

http://www.lakewoodcityschools.org/News ... wJQuO.dpbs

Christine Gordillo
Communications & PR Coordinator
Lakewood City Schools