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Lakewood Tax Rate for 2013: Up a Bit

Here are the numbers that make up your property tax bill this year.

Lakewood's tax rate will rise by about 2 mills this year, according to data provided by The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com.

Homeowners will pay $2,963 for every $100,000 in home value this year, up from $2,897 last year, according to the database.

Overall millage stands at 96.74 this year, compared to 94.59 in 2012.

The Lakewood City Schools get the largest share, with 58.55 mills costing $1,793 per $100,000 valuation.

At Tuesday night's school board meeting, board president Ed Favre said that the most recent levy — 6.9-mills from 2009 — was essentially "wiped out" because of the recent state cuts.

The district is looking to place a 3.9-mill operating levy on the May 7 ballot.

The county gets the next-highest amount, or $405. The city collects 7.48 mills, which translates to $229 per $100,000.

For a more detailed look at Lakewood's tax situation, click here to see the Cleveland.com database.

DLSJR January 23, 2013 at 05:11 pm
Yea!! Devalue my commercial properties some more Lakewood. Commercial properties already pay $4,000 per every $100,000 in property value. What happened to the last $500 of the break down? Now I will be damned to vote in favor of the new levy.
Joe Hildebrandt January 23, 2013 at 11:27 pm
Do you live in Lakewood? Or just own property in lakewood? Lakewood hasnt asked for a levy in years! and clearly demonstrated that they manage their funds better than majority of the school districts in northeast, OH. so... for our childrens future, they will have my vote.
Chris Olsen January 24, 2013 at 12:09 pm
NOW, MORE REASON THAN EVER TO JUST SAY NO TO A SCHOOL LEVY.....NICE OF THE CITY TO LET US KNOW ABOUT THIS TAX INCREASE IN SUCH A TIMELY MANNER, GOOD MOVE CITY COUNCIL, YOU JUST PUT THE PROVERBIAL NAIL INTO THE LEVY COFFIN. JUST SAY NO!
The original Bill January 24, 2013 at 01:57 pm
Why are you lambasting Lakewood City Council? They had nothing at all to do with this tax increase, it was voted on by the citizens of Lakewood and passed. Thankfully misinformed people like you are in the minority here in Lakewood.
Paul Grimm January 25, 2013 at 03:54 pm
According to the article, taxes are going up in Lakewood. Taxes are already high.
Jenn Pae January 25, 2013 at 04:14 pm
The City of Lakewood CITY millage is 17.40 mills, not 7.48. The $15.43 million in revenue this generated in 2012 is required by City charter for 8.65 mills (50%) to go to the General Fund, 3.47 mills (20%) to go to the Debt Service Fund, 3.28 mills to go to the Police & Fire Pension Funds (19%), and 2 mills to the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Fund (11%), although this dedicated 2 mills can be used on streets, parks, and sewer line improvements as well.
Jenn Pae January 25, 2013 at 04:21 pm
The City millage is a permanent levy established by the City Charter, meaning it won't change unless residents vote to change it. When property values go up, the City collects more, when property values go down as they have with the 2009 and 2012 valuations, the City collects less. Prior to 2009, property values increased in the City of Lakewood every three years on average 11% from 1983 to 2008. Since 2009, they have decreased by 11%.
Jenn Pae January 25, 2013 at 04:27 pm
School millage is determined by a fixed dollar amount that the schools want to collect, and can only collect that fixed dollar amount set by the millage at the point in time. So if the schools need $4.0 million in operating funds, they will have a levy on the ballot with corresponding millage for that amount based on the current property values.
If property values go up, the millage may go down because the schools can only collect that fixed dollar amount. If property values go down, like they have in recent years, the millage collected goes up to capture that fixed dollar amount originally levied. That is HB 920 in a nutshell.
DLSJR January 25, 2013 at 09:13 pm
yes I live in one of my apartments in Lakewood. For this building I just wrote a check last week for $8,200, a half year property tax. Commercial apartment buildings (5 units+) do not have the same benefits of city trash removal as residential properties. Our property taxes did not go down after service was cut off either. To tell a property owner that the city will raise our prop tax, wants to raise water 10%, and the schools also want to raise prop tax all in one year. To add expenses to a commercial property without raising rents (to off set new cost) decreases the value, or what I can sell for. One additional cost this year has to go, and I have voted yes on every levy in the past.

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Donna Witmer June 14, 2013 at 04:02 pm
Are you interested in a rent-to-own option?
casaderayray June 18, 2013 at 03:28 pm
Where is Storer...East, West, or South of Lakewood?
Regina Milsaps June 18, 2013 at 04:26 pm
It runs east from West 67th to West 34th between Clark to the North and Denison to the South. ButRead More you could look it up on Google maps for a better idea of just how far it is from West 117th and Madison.
taryn.osborn June 14, 2013 at 01:42 pm
I won't make it there before 2pm, but if you don't sell your drum set...I am interested!
State Rep. Nickie J. Antonio
Sarah Henderson June 12, 2013 at 07:16 pm
I am so glad to hear about this project for those in our community who struggle with mental illness.Read More Thanks for sharing this information, Nikki.
Colin McEwen (Editor) June 8, 2013 at 03:53 pm
Here's the follow up.Read More http://lakewood-oh.patch.com/groups/breaking-news/p/three-injured-after-car-crashes-through-the-exchange
Paul Grimm June 6, 2013 at 09:31 am
They are turning it into a Discount Drug Mart - should open this summer.
jim June 6, 2013 at 10:45 am
i think you are mistaking or being goofy...but sullivans is "was" at the corner ofRead More chesterland and madison, not on detroit.
William Bridgeman June 8, 2013 at 04:06 pm
They are supposed to be reopening in early July as Brew 211, as sports bar with a lot of large flatRead More TVs and basic bar food. The big wood booths are leaving. Sullivan's as we knew it is gone.
Maggie Rader June 6, 2013 at 12:45 pm
Again, while I am very grateful for the outcome for my Mom, I also have a lot of compassion for theRead More other residents. The move for my Mom is only temporary, since the South Westerly will come under the same guidelines within a couple of years. This can only be changed by an act of Congress. I have already written letters to the politicians involved, particularly Marcy Kaptur -- Ohio Congressional District 9. Hopefully, all concerned will do the same.
Duane Hoyt June 7, 2013 at 08:25 am
Marcy doesn't care about Lakewood. Dennis Kucinich wouldn't allow this to happen, but thanks toRead More Republican (Kasich) redistricting, Dennis had to run against Marcy, and he lost. Remember this when Kasich runs against local Lakewood man Ed Fitzgerald runs for Governor.
Ron Dodson June 8, 2013 at 07:10 pm
Members of Congress tack on amendments to bills all the time that only benefit a handful of theirRead More constituents. If there was ever a time for a pork barrel move, this would be it. You're right Duane, this would have never gotten this far if Dennis was still next door to the Westerly.
Lidia Trempe June 15, 2013 at 10:06 am
After two weeks of being lost in Cleveland, Mordecai has come home!! He had traveled 3 miles fromRead More where he was lost. A huge thank you to Eve, who lured him out of a huckleberry bush with hot dogs! He looks great and hasn't lost too much weight, and is being showered with bacon and steak. We hope to be able to pay this forward as much as we've been helped, thank you everyone for your time, thoughts and hard work!! https://www.facebook.com/lostinlakewood
Megan Rozsa (Editor) June 17, 2013 at 10:55 am
I'm so happy he's home now! Thanks to everyone who helped keep an eye on him by sharing this post!Read More :) Patch in action!
Mary Beth Moore June 17, 2013 at 10:36 pm
Thank goodness he is back home with Lidia and fam, where he belongs - yay!!! And the outpouring ofRead More community support for this sweet puppy was amazing. Thankful for this awesome community too!
Sandy June 4, 2013 at 09:21 pm
thank you for your support. I have notified 3 tv stations, 3 senators, the mayor. I am just hopingRead More that my postings will reach someone with power and know-how.
April Stoltz June 4, 2013 at 10:49 pm
So I think an important part of any action is to get those residents who are being evicted and areRead More willing and able to picket in front of the Westerly, out there, with signs, supporters and the media. Are any of the residents willing to do that, or their families/friends? The oldest could sit in chairs with signs. Signs could say things like "The Westerly is throwing grandma to the curb" or "Evicted by Big Money". I'm just shooting from the hip here but you get the idea. I would come out as a supporter. I have few contacts in that building, but the two that I do have are activists. Could you organize something like this with your contacts? Look out Westerly, you will be on the news and it won't be pretty.
Valerie Salstrom June 5, 2013 at 12:41 am
They can't ask these seniors to move at this point in their lives. This just does not sit well withRead More me at all. How can the bank and IRS be okay with this? Something definitely needs to be done to allow these people (who have done NOTHING wrong by the way) to stay right where they are.
John Huetter June 2, 2013 at 06:58 am
Receipients of the 2013 Lakewood Kiwanis Foundation's scholarships are Amira Nasrallah, SamuelRead More Aprile, Jackie Miller, Julie Herman, Aaron Donahoe and Gayle Craighead. All are Lakewood High School Seniors.