Cleveland Port Board Initiates Tax Levy Renewal Process

The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s board of directors on June 25 took the first steps to place a levy renewal on the November countywide ballot. The levy proceeds would fund projects the port says are "critical to Cleveland Harbor, and the jobs and companies that depend on it."

In a 8-0 vote (with one abstention), the board declared the necessity of a 0.13 mills levy. In July, as part of a two-part process required under state law, the board plans to consider placing the levy on the November ballot.  

According to the port, a renewal levy would yield approximately $3 million annually and cost property owners approximately $3.50 per year for every $100,000 of assessed value. This millage rate is the same as the rate set in 1968 when the port authority was created. The last levy was passed in 2007 and provided for collections through the end of this year. To avoid a disruption in collections, the port would need to secure a renewal in November.

"An interruption or permanent loss of the levy proceeds would have a significant and detrimental impact on the port’s programs," said Port President and CEO Will Friedman. "We could not continue to operate the port and support maritime activities the way we do now or over the long term without this levy."

The port would use levy proceeds on key investments that will keep its lakefront facilities competitive, and help companies better complete in the global marketplace. Along the Cuyahoga River, levy proceeds would be used on infrastructure investments needed to keep the ship channel fully open for large commercial vessels that carry cargo crucial to the operations of local companies.

American Association of Port Authorities
Asociación Americana de Autoridades Portuarias
1201 Maryland Ave SW, Suite 860, Washington, D.C. 20024
E: info@aapa-ports.org
W: www.aapa-ports.org