Willoughby-Eastlake levy fails, triggering cuts

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio. Cuyahoga County voters rejected a proposed tax measure on Tuesday, denying the Willoughby-Eastlake City School District an estimated $14 million in annual funding. The failed levy would have imposed a 0.75% earned income tax to stabilize the district's finances. Without this revenue, district officials must implement planned budget reductions and structural changes.

The most consequential change is a restructuring scheduled for the 2028-2029 school year. Under this plan, Eastlake North High School will cease to operate as a high school. It will transition into a middle school, making Willoughby South High School the only remaining high school in the district. This consolidation merges educational facilities across the two communities.

Residents expressed concern about how the changes will affect daily operations. Carol Richards, a resident whose niece works in the district’s preschool program, worried about staff retention amid the cuts. "Concerning that she’ll still have employment with all the cuts they’re gonna make," Richards said.

Richards also raised issues regarding class sizes and student attention. "It’s gonna be a massive school and that’s the big worry," she said. "Just merging those two cities, more than two cities, all together, is a big concern because of less one-on-one attention for each child."

Not all voters opposed the measure. Mira Fistrovic, a resident without current students in the district, voted in favor of the levy to ensure adequate school funding. Other residents, however, prioritized tax relief over potential program expansions. Greg Schniegenberg, who voted against the measure, weighed the costs against the benefits.

"I’ll vote for it if it’s a good thing, but if it’s not a good thing or I think it is just to raise taxes to put more money in the school coffers, then I’ll vote against it," Schniegenberg said. He acknowledged that cutting programs like sports might be difficult but felt the district must reduce expenses. "I think taking away sports and stuff like that is probably not a good thing," he said. "But other than that, school’s gotta learn to tighten their belts."

District leaders have not yet released a detailed timeline for the immediate program reductions or operational adjustments required before the 2028 consolidation takes effect.