City official says emergency clause fixed a reading error, not the levy itself
A video NEOhio News shared covering a recent Ravenna council meeting is getting some pushback from city officials, who say the clip left out important context about why a tax levy resolution was passed on an emergency basis. What the Video Showed The video covered a special council meeting where members voted to readopt Resolution 2026105. The resolution declares the necessity of an additional 0.25 percent income tax to fund a new fire station, police station and city hall. Council waived the three required readings and adopted an emergency clause before passing the resolution 5 0. Why the Redo Was Needed City records show the resolution had already cleared council once before. At that earlier meeting, members failed to formally suspend the three separate readings required under the Ohio Revised Code. The special meeting was called to correct that procedural step, not to introduce or rush the levy itself. A tracking sheet request tied to the item lists an August deadline for placing the measure on the ballot, which is why the correction needed same day action. Council Pushes Back on Fast Track Framing Carmen Lodato, who chairs the Planning Committee that sponsored the legislation, contacted NEOhio News after the video was shared. She said the levy content itself went through the full legislative process before ever reaching the emergency vote. “That particular item that went on the ballot, which we take very seriously about allowing a public comment period, not only went through the entire committee process. My committee, then committee of the whole, it also had reads on council,” Lodato said. She said the emergency vote covered in the video applied only to fixing the missed reading suspension from the prior meeting. What the Levy Does If approved by voters, the measure would fund planning and construction of a new fire station, police station and city hall in Ravenna. Council placed an identical measure on the May 5 primary ballot. The new vote sets up the same question for the November 3 general election.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Ravenna council hold an emergency vote on the levy resolution?
City records show Resolution 2026105 had already cleared council once, but members failed to formally suspend the three separate readings required under the Ohio Revised Code at that earlier meeting. The special meeting and emergency clause corrected that procedural step, not the levy itself.
What would the Ravenna levy fund?
The resolution declares the necessity of an additional 0.25 percent income tax to fund planning and construction of a new fire station, police station and city hall in Ravenna.
Did the levy skip the normal legislative process?
No, according to Planning Committee chair Carmen Lodato. She said the levy content went through the full legislative process — her committee, committee of the whole, and readings on council — before the emergency vote, which applied only to fixing the missed reading suspension.
Why did the correction require same day action?
A tracking sheet request tied to the item lists an August deadline for placing the measure on the ballot, which is why the correction needed same day action.
When will Ravenna voters see the levy question?
Council placed an identical measure on the May 5 primary ballot, and the new vote sets up the same question for the November 3 general election.