Cuyahoga County Issue 39 — City of East Cleveland: Proposed Municipal Income Tax (Increase)

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · East Cleveland voters

What it does
Shall the Ordinance providing for a 0.5% levy increase on income, to a rate of a 2.5% levy on income, for the purposes of general municipal operations, maintenance, new equipment, extension and enlargement of municipal services and facilities and capital improvements, commencing January 1, 2027, be passed?
A YES vote means
East Cleveland's income tax would increase by 0.5%, to 2.5%, for general municipal operations, maintenance, equipment, services, facilities and capital improvements, starting January 1, 2027.
A NO vote means
East Cleveland's income tax would not increase by 0.5%.
Needed to pass
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Left–right lean
A YES vote leans moderately left; a NO vote leans the other way (AI-estimated from the official ballot summary, 62% confidence).

The YES and NO lines are SpectrumVote's plain-language reading of the official text above; the official text is what you vote on.

Official text: source

Background

Per the ballot question, the ordinance would raise East Cleveland's municipal income tax by 0.5%, to 2.5%, starting January 1, 2027, for general operations, equipment, services and capital improvements.

Signal Cleveland reported that the rate has been 2% since 1982 and that the increase could raise about $970,000 a year based on last year's collections. It also reported that the city has been in fiscal emergency for 14 years and is the first Ohio city under a court-appointed receiver under a new state law.

According to Signal Cleveland, Mayor Sandra Morgan called the increase 'relatively painless' because most taxpayers work in the city but live elsewhere. Some residents, it reported, want a forensic audit before any tax vote.

Put on the ballot by City of East Cleveland (ordinance submitted to voters).

From official source.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Cuyahoga County Issue 39 mean?
East Cleveland's income tax would increase by 0.5%, to 2.5%, for general municipal operations, maintenance, equipment, services, facilities and capital improvements, starting January 1, 2027.
What does a NO vote on Cuyahoga County Issue 39 mean?
East Cleveland's income tax would not increase by 0.5%.
How many votes does Cuyahoga County Issue 39 need to pass?
A simple majority: more than half of the YES and NO votes on this measure must be YES. Leaving it blank doesn't count either way.
Should I vote yes or no on Cuyahoga County Issue 39?
SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Read what a YES and a NO vote each do, and the official text, then decide based on what you want to happen.
When is the vote?
The general election is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Early voting and mail-ballot deadlines vary by state; check your state or county election office.

Not sure how to decide? Read our nonpartisan guide to the Cuyahoga County ballot.

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