Ep. 69 - Beachwood Property Taxes, The Fairmount Temple Deal & Questions Surrounding the Mayor's Brother

This is a great episode where Mike, Shana, and Matt Hildebrand talk about: • The three property tax increases Beachwood residents are facing in 2027 and why the average homeowner could see a net increase of about $887. • Why Beachwood City Council quietly increased the city's inside mills from 1.6 to 4 mills, generating millions of dollars in additional revenue. • Beachwood's spending, the mayor's new $50,000 car, his salary increases, and whether the city really has a revenue problem or a spending problem. • The controversy surrounding the city's purchase of the Fairmount Temple property for $8 million and the city's apparent plans to classify the property as a blighted or urban renewal area. • How an urban renewal designation could allow Beachwood to divert millions of dollars in property tax revenue away from the school district and county agencies. • Why Orange Village and Cuyahoga County officials have begun pushing back against tax increment financing and other development incentives. • Questions surrounding Mayor Justin Berns, his brother's involvement in a proposed development, and why the timing of when the mayor learned about his brother's involvement has raised questions. • Why Bob Hardesty copied Beachwood City Council on his correspondence about the situation and made it clear that the school district could not support the proposal. • Questions about what was discussed during an executive session and whether the discussion was appropriate given the stated purpose of that meeting. Subscribe for more episodes like this one!