Commissioners hear more feedback on property tax exemptions, will vote Friday

ELYRIA — County commissioners will consider two potential property tax breaks for eligible Lorain County residents separately at their meeting Friday, after hearing concerns that the exemptions would harm funding for public schools and city services. Dozens of school and city officials and residents from around the county packed the commissioners' fourth floor meeting room in the County Administration Building in downtown Elyria on Tuesday to object. Commissioners had tabled the proposed renewal May 22 after critics told them an unplanned reduction in property tax revenue would harm Lorain County schools, cities and libraries. Commissioners first approved the tax exemptions last year. Critics said they cost $17.4 million in tax revenue. Commissioner Marty Gallagher said being able to give residents property tax breaks helped commissioners relieve the tax burden on the elderly, disabled and veterans whose taxes went up due to a significant increase in property values last year. He said he wanted to "make sure we're not hurting the most vulnerable in the community." Commissioner Jeff Riddell said his board was "not particularly happy" to be put in the position. "This is outside the job we were put in here to do," he said, promising to consider all the evidence and concerns. "We'll take these matters to heart." Jamal Sulaiman, a North Ridgeville resident, father of seven children who attended North Ridgeville schools and an employee of Cleveland Schools, addressed commissioners with his request to reconsider the tax exemptions. "Great things happen when money is invested wisely in schools," he said, calling children "arguably the most vulnerable population." Paul Hieronymus, an Avon resident — and director of information, technology and integration at North Ridgeville schools — said one exemption saved him only about $15 per month, but reduced local school revenue by much more. Schools can't stop educating children when they lose revenue, he said. Instead, they cut programs and are forced to go back to their voters earlier with further requests for funding. Sheffield-Sheffield Lake Schools Superintendent Mike Cook said the exemptions cost his district $531,000 last year. "We don't sit on a large nest of money," he said. Lorain School Board President Courtney Nazario said 20,000 Lorain County residents might benefit from the tax breaks, but they "place an even greater burden on our schools." Keystone Schools Superintendent Zach Weagley, who is stepping down July 31, said his district has committed to "careful planning and sacrifice" so it doesn't have to ask voters for more money while preparing students for "careers that aren't even made yet." He asked commissioners to "weigh the long-term impact" of the tax exemptions. If Lorain County is to grow, "we must invest in the students that will lead it," North Ridgeville schools Assistant Superintendent David Pritt told commissioners. North Ridgeville Mayor Kevin Corcoran said his residents made a choice when close to two-thirds of them supported fire, police and street levies in recent years. He asked commissioners not to take their votes away. "We ask you to find a different way, as this is hurting everyone," he said. The board will meet again at 9:30 a.m. Friday on the fourth floor of the County Administration Building, 226 Middle Ave., Elyria. The meeting also will be streamed on YouTube. Commissioner David Moore said commissioners got "a lot of feedback" on the issue. He said there are changes coming from lawmakers in Columbus, including an increase in the owner occupancy tax credit for Ohioans who live in their own homes. Moore said the other ways to increase tax revenue are economic development, which doesn't happen overnight, or income tax increases, which are unpopular with voters. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.