Election 2022: Cuyahoga County cities see differing results with charter amendments
Nov. 9—Cuyahoga County voted on several amendments during the Nov. 8 ballot, many of which deal with the adjustment of hours and wages in the various municipalities.
Mayfield Village voters decided in favor of an amendment to their charter that will raise the mayor's salary from $26,000 annually to $50,000, effective Jan. 1, 2023. The amendment was approved by a 836-773 vote, according to unofficial final results from the Cuyahoga County Elections Board.
Mayfield Village Law Director Diane Calta said the reasoning for the change is that previous amendments did not consider inflation, thus creating a position in their city government that was underpaid.
Calta said that they may place an additional amendment on the ballot in the future that would raise the salaries alongside the cost of living rather than going through this process again in the future.
In Richmond Heights, two amendments were passed which both involve the mayor and their duties. The first of these amendments moves the position into a full-time position and allow them all the same benefits of a full-time employees of the municipality. This amendment was approved by a vote of 2,586 to 956.
The second amendment passed adds to the mayor's responsibilities within Richmond Heights by removing their obligation to first consider candidates for council if they were already defeated during election. Additionally, the amendment increases the amount of time council must consider filing the positions from 45 days to 60. This amendment was approved with a vote of 3,022 to 487.
"The Charter Review Committee completed its recommendations to update and change 11 items in our charter," Richmond Heights Mayor Kim Thomas said. "Out of the 11, 10 were approved by the residents and will go into effect once the board of elections certifies the items.
"The only item that will not go into immediate effect is the full-time mayor's position," she added. "This is because of the state law. The full-time mayor occurs the next election cycle. However, the full-time benefits for the mayor will go into effect now."
Highland Heights failed to pass an issue on its charter that details how millage would be collected from the pensions of both their police and fire departments. Voters rejected it 2,586 to 1,238.
Highland Heights Mayor Chuck Brunello said that the city uses millage to collect taxes from residents to help pay for the police and fire pension liabilities. The city's liability in 2022 is about $1,022,000.
The amendment would have allowed the city to collect $266,000 from residents, leaving the city to pay $756,000 from the General Fund, which covers operating expenses of the city.
Additionally, Brunello said that the State Legislature proposed to increase the municipality's contribution rates over for a five-year period. This would mean an increase of the city's portion by $47,000 the first year, $97,000 the second year, $150,000 the third year, $206,000 the fourth year, and $265,000 for the fifth year.
With the amendment voted down Highland Heights officials hope to find a new way to support their fire and police.
