On Tuesday, Cuyahoga County voters approved Issue 11, adding almost $111 million in property‑tax revenue for county social‑service programs, according to Signal Cleveland. The measure is intended to stabilize funding for seniors, children, people experiencing homelessness and those needing food assistance. The same ballot also re‑elected County Executive Chris Ronayne, who won 98% of the vote against a write‑in challenger.
Ronayne told Signal Cleveland that the levy allows the county to go “all in” on health‑related services such as medical care, addiction treatment and food assistance. He emphasized that the new money is meant to stave off further cuts after the county reduced its health and human services budget by $20.5 million for fiscal year 2027. Ronayne blamed state and federal policies for undermining the safety net and said he has already discussed health priorities with Governor‑elect Amy Acton.
In addition to Issue 11, voters approved Issue 10, which will generate additional revenue for the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, though the exact amount was not disclosed in the report.
The levy win comes as the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) prepares to request a sales‑tax increase next year. Ronayne, who appoints part of the RTA board, said he supports better transportation options but wants a detailed community‑transportation plan before endorsing the levy, noting that some trustees appear hesitant about placing the measure on the May ballot.
Local sports venues also face financial decisions. Gateway Economic Development Corp., the landlord for Progressive Field and Rocket Arena, is seeking cash for repairs, while the Cleveland Cavaliers are pursuing $37 million for upgrades to the arena’s scoreboard and audio systems. Ronayne confirmed that county and city officials are meeting with the teams to discuss cost‑sharing, but he did not identify a specific revenue source for the projects.
“First and foremost, this levy was about staving off further cuts,” Ronayne said, adding that the county’s budget projections show costs continuing to rise. He indicated that the new revenue will be allocated to medical care, addiction services and food assistance, but acknowledged that the funds will only go so far.
What’s next: The RTA is expected to present its sales‑tax proposal to voters in May 2025, while Gateway Economic Development Corp. will continue negotiations with the county and city on financing repairs. The county’s next budget proposal, due later this year, will detail how the $111 million levy will be distributed among social‑service programs.
Sources: signalcleveland.org
