Analyzing Government Cost & Performance
The major responsibility of county and local governments to create a climate for its residents to grow, prosper and live a good life. Key metrics for evaluating county and local governments include:
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Creating Economic Opportunity & Jobs for All Sectors of the Community
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Developing a Well-Skilled Workforce
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Ensuring Safety & Justice
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Providing & Maintaining a High-Quality Infrastructure
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Delivering Good, Cost-Effective Services
To assess how well Cuyahoga County governments are fulfilling their responsibilities and to understand what changes are needed, it's important to use data to develop an informed perspective.
Cuyahoga County 8% Sales Tax is Among Highest in Ohio
40-Year Sales Tax Extension Passes Without Voter Approval; Rep Kelly Casts Crucial Vote
Recent Sales Tax Collection Are Over $400 Million & Represent 23% of Total Operating Revenue
Cuyahoga County’s 8.0% sales tax is made up of Ohio’s statewide base rate: 5.75% and a local “piggyback” sales tax added by the county. The combined rate is one of the highest in Ohio, just below Franklin County’s 8.25% rate. It is substantially higher than nearby counties, which is a disincentive for shoppers and new homeowners.
In 2007, a 0.25% sales tax was approved for 20 years by the voters. Rather than let the sales tax expire in 2027, County Executive Ronayne proposed that council approve extending the existing 0.25% sales tax for 40 years. Instead of submitting the tax to a public vote, County Council narrowly approved the extension with a 6-5 vote after defeating several amendments. County Council Representative Kelly provided the deciding vote for a 40-year extension of a sales tax passed without voter approval.
For more information, read the PDF.
Cuyahoga County Property Tax Burden is Among Highest in Ohio
Cuyahoga Effective Rate At 2.085%, Highest of Major Ohio Counties
Recent Appraisal impacted Seniors, Increased Challenges & Burdened County Manpower
The effective property tax rate in Cuyahoga is approximately 2.085%, which is the highest among several major counties in the state. This rate is significantly above the national average, contributing to a substantial tax burden for residents. The high rate is a significant negative factor affecting Cuyahoga County's economic development appeal.
Median House Value $183,200
X Effective Rate 2.085% = Median Tax Burden $3,819
The recent appraisal, combined with Cuyahoga's high effective rates, led to significant increases in the amount of taxes to be paid each year. The increase led to many challenges and delinquencies as seniors and other on fixed incomes struggled to pay the increases.
For more information, read the PDF.
Reviewing Cuyahoga County Revenue and Spending
Priority 1: Restore Fiscal Responsibility
Cuyahoga County Total 2024 Expenditures Were $3,500 Per Household.
Spending Cuts & Debt Analysis Are Needed to Maintain Services, Improve Efficiency & Reduce Fraud
Total Revenues were about $1.7 Billion, nearly $1,400 per capita and $3,000 per houshold.
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Intergovernmental revenue was $481 million, about $400 per capita and $868 per household.
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Property taxes were $410 million, about $333 per capita and $740 per household.
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Sales taxes were $332 million, about $269 per capita and $568 per household.
Total Expenditures were $1.9 Billion, over $1,900 per capita and $3,500 per houshold.
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Expenditures exceeded revenues, $184 per capita and $408 per household.
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Human Services spending was $544.3 million, about 28% of total expenditures. Per capita Human Services spending was $441and nearly $1,000 per household, 6th highest among Ohio counties.
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Total Human Services spending in Cuyahoga County ranked #1 among Ohio counties.
For more information, read the PDF.
Cuyahoga County Government: Spending More & You're Getting Less
Restoring Fiscal Discipline Will Mean Re-assessing Departmental Manspower Needs
Cuyahoga County Government Employed 7,000 to 7,200 from 2020 to 2025
County government employment reflects key role in handling public safety.and delivering human services.Any effort to control spending must deal overall performance, complex manpower needs and contracts in many departments.
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Public safety, including the sheriff, the courts and the law department, totals 3,450 FTE's.
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Human services employment is 2,374 FTE's.
For more information, read the PDF.
Cuyahoga County Government Facilities Should Be Trimmed
Cuyahoga County Government Facilities - 5.8 Million Square Feet & $1.1 Billion
Note: 2022 Data. More recent data may be available.
How AI Summarizes My Views on Government
The Government page of Jim Trutko’s campaign site focuses on analyzing government cost and performance in Cuyahoga County. He argues that residents are "spending more and getting less" due to high taxes and inefficient spending.
His primary focus for reform is Restoring Fiscal Responsibility, which includes the following key points:
Tax Burden & Oversight
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High Sales Tax: He highlights that Cuyahoga’s 8% sales tax is among the highest in Ohio. He specifically criticizes the 40-year extension of a 0.25% sales tax that was passed by the County Council without a public vote.
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Property Tax: He notes that the county's effective property tax rate of 2.085% is the highest among major Ohio counties, creating a significant burden for seniors and those on fixed incomes.
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Voter Approval: Trutko advocates for a policy where all future tax increases must be put to a vote of the people.
Spending & Efficiency
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Budget Concerns: He points out that total expenditures ($1.9 billion) exceeded revenues ($1.7 billion) in 2024, resulting in a deficit.
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Departmental Audits: He proposes a state performance audit of human services and the Sheriff’s Department to identify inefficiencies.
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Manpower & Facilities: Trutko suggests a comprehensive review of the county’s 7,200 employees and its 5.8 million square feet of facility space to identify areas for restructuring or trimming.
Public Safety & Infrastructure
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Resource Allocation: He emphasizes that safety-related activities account for nearly half of the county workforce and 67% of general fund expenditures, necessitating stronger management.
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Infrastructure Ratings: He cites data showing that nearly half of the highways in the Metro Cleveland area are ranked in "poor" condition, highlighting a need for better multi-government coordination on maintenance.
Justice & Public Safety in Cuyahoga County Is Key Public Priority
Maintaining public safety is a fundamental responsibility of local government. All justice & public safety activities represented about 57% of all public administration employment & 64% of wages. Police represented about 46% of justice and safety employment and wages.
County Government Expenditures on Security
The Cuyahoga County government spends at least $419 million (30%) of its $1.4 billion annual budget on safety-related programs. Most people are aware of the county sheriff and prosecutor, the county courts and jail, but the county also has crime-related spending for health & human services. About 3,400 (47%) of the county's 7,200 full-time employees are tied to safety-related activities.
Is Cleveland a well-run city?
Delivering Good, Cost-Effective Services:
In 2025, WalletHub evaluated the quality of governance in US cities based on seven standard criteria. Cleveland ranked 133rd overall, ranking 118th in budget per capita and 132nd in the qualtiy of city services.
Cleveland ranked last among the six Ohio cities in the research, and ranked 14th of 18 Midwestern cities in the ranking.
For more information, read the PDF.
Providing High-Quality Infrastructure:
What is the condition of Metro Cleveland's roadways?
Almost half of the highways in Metro Cleveland (Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties) were ranked as poor by a national highway research group, TRIP. The area was ranked 48th out of 70 metro areas.
Part of the problem is that different levels of government- local, county, state and federal- are responsible for maintenance and repair. It's often difficult to determine which government is responsible for the roadway's condition.
For more information, read the PDF.
