Ep. 69 - Beachwood Property Taxes, The Fairmount Temple Deal & Questions Surrounding the Mayor's Brother
Podcast: Everything Is LocalPublished On: Tue Aug 25 2026
Description: 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!
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