Free-market think tank Opportunity Ohio (O2) released over 30 “Fiscal-Teacher Data Charts” in September to provide voters facing local school levies with background data on district spending. Summarized information for districts located partially or entirely in Cuyahoga County follows.

Media Trackers previously shared levy information from fact sheets for Franklin County districts.

For additional details, click a school district name to see the district’s O2 fact sheet in PDF format.

Cleveland Metropolitan School District

If voters approve the November levy, property taxes in the Cleveland Metro Schools district will increase by approximately $459 per $100,000 in value. The district plans to increase spending by an average of 2.1 percent each year from 2013 to 2016.

From 2001 to 2011, Cleveland Metro Schools decreased spending by 3.7 percent as funding from all tax sources dropped 6.3 percent. With the district losing students amid a general exodus of Cleveland residents, per-pupil spending increased by 60.4 percent during the same period, while median household income in the city increased 5.5 percent.

The district saw a 67.3 percent plunge in enrollment from 2001-2011, and reduced the number of full-time teachers by 34.5 percent. At the same time, the average Cleveland Metro teacher’s salary increased by 41.6 percent to $65,518 – more than double the district’s median household income of $27,349.

Despite the fact that Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s spending and enrollment are out of sync and teachers are now paid in excess of the average home’s value, Governor John Kasich – a Republican – supports the proposed tax hike as part of the modest “Cleveland Plan” reforms passed earlier this year.

Euclid City Schools

If voters approve the Euclid City Schools levy in November, property taxes in the district will increase by $276 per $100,000 in value. From 2013-2016, the district plans to increase spending by an average of 3.5 percent each year.

From 2001-2011, funding for Euclid City Schools from all tax sources increased by 37.1 percent. While median household income increased by 6.7 percent, the district increased its spending by 43.8 percent.

Enrollment in the district dropped by 4.5 percent from 2001-2011, but the number of full-time teachers increased by 7.5 percent. Average teacher salary increased 39.6 percent over the same period – to $64,981 in 2011 – as per-pupil spending increased 50.2 percent.

Richmond Heights City Schools

The Richmond Heights City Schools levy on the November ballot will increase property taxes by $162 for every $100,000 in value if approved by voters. The district plans to increase spending by an average of 2.3 percent per year from 2013-2016.

School funding from all tax sources increased by 39.3 percent from 2001-2011, while the district’s spending increased by 27 percent. Per-pupil spending increased 48.1 percent, as enrollment decreased by 16.3 percent.

From 2001-2011, Richmond Heights City Schools reduced the number of full-time teachers by 12.4 percent and increased the average teacher’s salary by 40.9 percent. Median household income in the district increased by 11.6 percent during the same period.

In 2011, the average teacher salary in the district was $63,098.

Rocky River City Schools

If approved by voters, the Rocky River school levy will increase property taxes by $150 per $100,000 in value. From 2011-2016 the district plans to increase spending by an average of 3.2 percent annually.

School funding from all taxes increased by 56.8 percent from 2001-2011. Spending increased by 51.5 percent during the same period, with per-pupil spending increasing by 42.8 percent.

Enrollment in Rocky River City School district increased 5.7 percent from 2001-2011, and the number of full-time teachers in the district increased by 4.8 percent.

In 2011, the average teacher’s salary was $73,950, a 55 percent increase from 2001. Median household income in the district increased by 26 percent during the same ten-year period.

South Euclid-Lyndhurst City Schools

Should voters approve the South Euclid-Lyndhurst City Schools levy in November, property taxes will increase by $181 for every $100,000 in value. The district plans to increase spending by an average of 3.6 percent each year from 2013-2016.

From 2001-2011, funding from all tax sources increased by 48.2 percent and spending increased by 48.8 percent although enrollment decreased by 0.9 percent.

The district increased its full-time teaching staff by 1.9 percent from 2001-2011 and increased the average teacher’s pay by 31.8 percent during the same period. The average teacher’s salary was $64,613 in 2011.

From 2001-2011, median household income in the district increased by 14.6 percent.

Strongsville City Schools

If passed in November, the Strongsville school levy will increase property taxes in the district by $89 for every $100,000 in value. The district’s funding from all taxes increased by 38.5 percent from 2001-2011.

Strongsville City Schools increased spending by 33.6 percent from 2001-2011 as enrollment dropped by 4.7 percent. Per-pupil spending increased by 39.7 percent, while median household income in the district increased by 11.6 percent.

During the same period, the number of full-time teachers was reduced by 6.7 percent and average teacher salary increased by 40.6 percent – to $66,558 in 2011.