Cuyahoga County Issue 70 — City of Olmsted Falls: Proposed Tax Levy (Renewal)

Ballot measure · November 3, 2026 · Olmsted Falls voters

What it does
A renewal of a tax for the benefit of the City of Olmsted Falls for the purpose of providing for the payment of the salaries and salary-related expenses of permanent fire personnel in the City’s Fire Department that the County Fiscal Officer estimates will collect $391,684 annually, at a rate not exceeding 1.9 mills for each $1 of taxable value, which amounts to $33 for each $100,000 of the County Fiscal Officer’s market value, for five years, commencing in 2026, first due in calendar year 2027.
A YES vote means
Olmsted Falls would renew a tax of up to 1.9 mills ($33 per $100,000 of the County Fiscal Officer's market value) for salaries and related costs of permanent fire personnel, for five years starting in 2026.
A NO vote means
Olmsted Falls would not renew this 1.9-mill fire personnel tax.
What it would cost
Up to 1.9 mills for 5 years: $190 a year for every $100,000 of taxable value (a mill is $1 per $1,000). Ohio taxes 35% of a home's appraised value, so that's about $66.50 per $100,000 of appraised value; renewals often collect less than the full rate because of Ohio's tax-reduction factors. Taxable value is after exemptions such as homestead; your tax bill or property appraiser shows yours. It would continue a tax already in place rather than add a new one.
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
Not a left–right issue: a procedural or local question that liberals and conservatives don't typically split on (AI read of the official ballot summary).

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

Olmsted Falls City Council adopted Resolution 36-2026 by a 6–0 vote on June 23, 2026, submitting the renewal of an existing 1.9-mill levy for salaries of permanent fire personnel.

At a July 28, 2026 special meeting, Council also placed a separate question raising the city income tax from 1.5% to 2.0%. In that discussion a Council member listed the city's levies, including a 1.9-mill fire levy from 2006. Members said they intended to let three fire levies and one police levy lapse if the income tax increase passed, though they could not legally bind that outcome.

Per the ballot language, the renewal is estimated to collect $391,684 a year.

Put on the ballot by Olmsted Falls City Council, 6–0, June 23, 2026 (Resolution 36-2026).

From official source 1, official source 2, official source 3.

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Quick answers

What does a YES vote on Cuyahoga County Issue 70 mean?
Olmsted Falls would renew a tax of up to 1.9 mills ($33 per $100,000 of the County Fiscal Officer's market value) for salaries and related costs of permanent fire personnel, for five years starting in 2026.
What does a NO vote on Cuyahoga County Issue 70 mean?
Olmsted Falls would not renew this 1.9-mill fire personnel tax.
How many votes does Cuyahoga County Issue 70 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 70?
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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