TALLMADGE – Tallmadge City Council heard detailed presentations on two November ballot issues and approved new cybersecurity measures during its Oct. 9 meeting.
County Charter Amendment Explained
Phil Montgomery, director of finance and budget for Summit County, presented information on Issue 2, a county charter amendment that will appear on the November ballot.
The measure would replace the county’s existing 2.2 mills of inside millage with 2.2 mills of charter millage, maintaining current funding levels while adding a 3 percent growth cap on property tax collections.
Montgomery explained that inside millage is currently threatened by state legislation. House Bill 335, introduced earlier this year, initially proposed eliminating inside millage entirely, which would have devastated county services.
The county’s 2.2 mills generates $41 million annually, representing a quarter of the general fund. Those funds support the sheriff’s department, jail operations and 911 dispatch services.
“What issue two does, to put it as simple as I can, is that 2.2 mills that we get today in inside millage we want to be able to replace it with 2.2 mills of charter millage,” Montgomery said.
The proposal includes a cap limiting collection increases to 3 percent even if property values rise more than that amount. If property values decrease, collections would decrease accordingly.
Montgomery noted the state legislature recently issued a substitute version of House Bill 335 that removes the elimination of inside millage and adopts a similar 3 percent cap, following Summit County’s lead.
School Levy Information Shared
Steve Wood, superintendent of Tallmadge City Schools, outlined two school levies on the November ballot.
Issue 53 is a renewal levy that has been in place since 2001 and will not cost taxpayers additional money. Issue 54 is a new 5.7-mill operating levy that would cost the owner of a home valued at $100,000 approximately $16.67 per month.
Wood explained that school districts face financial pressure from two sources: inflation and declining state funding. Tallmadge City Schools is losing close to $1 million per year in state funding.
“The last time we did ask for an additional levy was back in 2019,” Wood said. “So, we’re asking for a new levy this time.”
The new levy would fund existing classroom programs and facilities rather than new initiatives. Wood noted the 5.7-mill rate is lower than typical school levies, which usually range from 7.5 to 9.5 mills.
If the levy does not pass in November, the district would face program and service cuts and would lose a year of tax collection. The district would not be able to collect taxes until 2027, forcing the board to request a higher millage rate in a future attempt.
Mayor Carol Siciliano-Kilway thanked both presenters for explaining the ballot issues in understandable terms.
Cybersecurity Program Adopted
Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 2025-77 on first reading, establishing a cybersecurity program as required by House Bill 96, which passed in late August.
Director of Administration Ray Ignazito said the ordinance appropriates $42,000 for professional services to establish a baseline assessment of the city’s cybersecurity infrastructure and identify any gaps.
The state mandate requires political subdivisions to implement comprehensive cybersecurity programs by Jan. 1, 2026. The law also requires reporting cyber attacks to the state within seven days and prohibits paying ransomware demands without a public vote.
“We have a very complicated architecture of our system because of the number of users and number of computers and other attachments,” Ignazito said. “It makes this to be a very challenging environment to meet all of these requirements.”
The city already meets or exceeds many of the requirements, particularly in employee training, but needs to improve documentation and testing procedures.
Ignazito said additional funding will likely be needed during the budget process as the city works toward full compliance.
Director of Finance Mollie Gilbride noted the state auditor’s office is increasingly holding employees personally liable when cybersecurity or financial policies are not in place.
Other Business
Council confirmed Darcy Bower as an alternate member of the Board of Zoning Appeals. Mayor Siciliano-Kilway said the alternate position helps ensure the board maintains a quorum when regular members cannot attend meetings.
Council approved transferring funds from various accounts, including closing the fire station construction fund and returning advances to other funds. The fire station construction is complete, and remaining maintenance will come from operating budgets.
The council also received financial reports showing income tax collections slightly above budget projections. Gilbride highlighted the city’s first tax increment financing distribution of $331,000 from the Tallmadge Reserve development, which will help pay debt on the Washburn Road and East Avenue intersection improvements.
Community Input
Scott Hileman of the Tallmadge Historical Society urged the city to protect historic buildings, particularly the two structures on the circle. He suggested installing an irrigation system to reduce fire risk from dry grass and asked officials to consider protective measures for remaining historic buildings.
Mayor Siciliano-Kilway acknowledged the importance of the historic church and noted the city is conducting a recognized heritage structure audit.
The mayor also announced several upcoming events, including Beggar’s Night on Oct. 30 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and the Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. at the historic church on the circle.
Director of Public Service Michael Rorar reported crews sealed nearly 17 miles of road cracks during September as part of pavement maintenance efforts. The parks department is preparing for upcoming events, including the fall festival on Oct. 18 and the tree lighting festival on Nov. 28.
The council’s budget workshop is scheduled for Nov. 5.
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