Protecting Seniors — And Being Honest About the Cost of Local Services

Last night, I repeated a line several times during conversations with voters from across Geauga County:

“I firmly believe that if you worked hard and paid off your home, you should not be taxed out of it. I want our seniors who have built our community to be able to age in place, in their home.”

That’s not just a talking point for me — it’s a value.

I spoke with a senior couple who shared their growing frustration with rising property values, increasing assessments, and the number of levies on the ballot this fall. Like many on fixed incomes, they’re worried that a combination of new levies and inflation — driven higher by tariffs and broader economic pressures — will make it harder to stay in their home.

So, let’s talk plainly about the three levies on the Russell Township ballot this fall. I’m not telling you how to vote — I’m giving a brief overview and encouraging you to do your own research before casting your ballot.

1. Russell Township Police Levy

Chief Swainder took the time to explain the department’s perspective to me directly.

Right now, when a crime occurs in Russell Township, patrol officers handle both patrol and detective work. Since shifts typically run with only two officers, if one is tied up on a case, that leaves just one officer covering the entire township. The department believes there’s a clear need to add a detective to keep up with case volume.

Meanwhile, inflation hasn’t spared township operations. Fuel, vehicles, facilities, and equipment all cost more than they did when the current levy passed in 2017. According to the Chief, the existing levy will not be sufficient to meet statutory funding needs beyond 2026.

2. West Geauga School District Levy

This measure would consolidate the district’s existing emergency and temporary continuing levies into one combined levy, maintaining current funding levels.

Here’s why this matters: the state budget passed this year by the Republican supermajority eliminates emergency and temporary levies going forward. If this measure fails, the district’s operating budget would be thrown into uncertainty.

Put simply, this levy is about whether voters want to maintain current funding levels under the new state rules.

3. Geauga County Park District Levy (Issue 17)

This measure would renew a 0.7-mill levy and add a 0.5-mill increase, for a total of 1.2 mills. For a property valued at $100,000, the annual cost would rise from about $6 to $23. The levy would generate approximately $3.3 million annually through 2046.

The park district hasn’t requested a tax increase since 2000. These funds are its sole source of revenue to maintain and improve 28 parks and nearly 11,000 acres of land. Executive Director John Oros has emphasized that the funding would support trail improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and facility renovations at sites like West Woods and the Rookery.

If the levy fails, the district will likely return with another initiative in the spring.

My Commitment

I’m not here to tell you how to vote on these measures. What I will say is that inflation affects all of us — families, seniors, and local governments alike. In the case of the school district, the issue stems directly from decisions made in Columbus. For the police and park district, rising costs are driving these ballot measures.

But here’s my bottom line: seniors who have built this community should be able to stay in their homes. That’s why I’ve already put forward a proposal to provide an additional $250–$500 annual tax rebate to seniors through the Homestead credit, leveraging provisions enacted this year through Ohio House Bill 96.

If elected, John Ishee and I will work with legal counsel, the fiscal officer, and county partners to determine what level of government can implement this — and if it can be done at the township level, we’ll work to make it happen as quickly as possible.

Your Vote Matters

Whether you vote early or on November 4, I hope you’ll support Heutmaker & Ishee — candidates committed to fiscal responsibility and protecting our seniors’ ability to age in place with dignity.

Let’s keep Russell Township a place where people who built this community can continue to call it home.

– Amy Heutmaker