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Property taxes in Cuyahoga County are going up on average 16% based on new appraisals. For property owners in the City of Cleveland the tax increases are 23% more than the last time appraisals were made in 2018.
Any homeowner would be pressed to meet such tax increases, but for the county's seniors and older adults it can be especially daunting due to their fixed incomes. Some are finding it harder to hold onto their homes as their taxes increase. The cost of renting is also going up and protections against evictions that kept so many in their homes during the pandemic have gone away. Housing remains a key issue as we emerge from the pandemic and its an issue that is hits senior citizens hard. We talk about the housing challenges facing seniors with the organization ESOP: Empowering and Strengthening Ohio’s People.
But first, in July, we began our After Jackson: Cleveland’s Next Mayor podcast. The goal was to follow in-depth the candidates and issues leading up to the selection of the new mayor of Cleveland. Current mayor Frank Jackson will retire at the end of his current term—his fourth consecutive leading the city.
Back in July there were seven candidates vying for the city’s top job. In September, primary voters whittled the field down to two: Justin Bibb and Kevin Kelley. On Election Day, Bibb handily won election.
Now in the months leading up to when he is sworn-in Bibb has to put together a transition team. He will be looking for a new police chief. Calvin Williams announced last week he will resign. His last day is January 3. Other changes are likely to follow. Voters also passed Issue 24, a civilian police oversight charter amendment that will factor into Bibb’s administration.
We have been bringing you the podcast here weekly on The Sound of Ideas. With the election now in the books, the podcast is coming to an end. Ahead we hear the final episode of the podcast and talk to Ideastream Public Media Senior Reporter, Nick Castele about the podcast and the campaign that just concluded.
For More Information:
ESOP Resources for Older Adults
Nick Castele, Senior Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
Michael Billnitzer, Executive Director, Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People (ESOP); Vice-President, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
