Lakewood Schools Owed $3.8 Million in Back Taxes

Based on the most current available data, the is owed a total of $3.8 million in delinquent property taxes, which would come in handy right now as the district faces a $6.3 million loss in state funding over the next two school years. 

However, the seven-figure tabulation can be attributed to the sluggish economy — more so than people trying to skip out on their tax bills, Cuyahoga County spokesperson John Kohlstrand said. 

“No one wants to be behind,” he said. “Typically, those who are delinquent are either business or industrial property owners who have been affected by the economy. We offer these folks and homeowners multiple opportunities for a payment plan. If taxes aren't paid, properties could be sold at auction."

The good news is that the delinquency tally has been paid down by $1.2 million versus this time last year, and the Cuyahoga County Fiscal Office reported that it collected 95.2 percent of property taxes owed, or about $45.2 million, for tax year 2009. 

“If you’re looking at the trend, that 95.2 percent represents the highest amount we’ve collected in (tax years 2006 through 2009),” Kohlstrand said. 

In tax year 2008, the county collected 92.7 percent. The year before it took in 93.7 percent, and in 2006, 94.9 percent of property taxes were paid. 

Lakewood schools collect about 60 cents of each of those property tax dollars, with the rest going to the library, county and metroparks, Lakewood schools treasurer Rick Berdine said. 

Given the amount of time it takes to collect property taxes and to assess the data, tax years are always behind by one year, so more will be known later this month on how much is delinquent from the first half of tax year 2010. 

By this December, all of tax year 2010’s fiscal data will be collected and reported, and Berdine will see if the collection percentage continues to rise or slip backwards.