Avon School Board Sees Potential Revenue Loss from All Pro Freight Stadium

Avon Board of Education is considering opposing Ohio Senate Bill 71, which would grant a tax exemption to  -- and represents a possible loss of potential revenue to the school district.

Current law allows tax exemption for minor-league teams affiliated wth major league clubs, but the Lake Erie Crushers, which plays at All Pro Freight Stadium, is an independent team and unaffiliated with any Major League Baseball organization.

SB 71 would allow municipally owned stadiums like All Pro Freight Stadium to be exempt from paying property taxes.

Avon's city government is in favor of All Pro Freight Stadium being tax-exempt and supports SB 71. To make up for the revenue loss to the school district, Mayor Jim Smith has said the city would be open to paying the district at least $25,000 a year. The district has not collected any revenue related to the stadium since it was built. The stadium opened in 2009.

School district Treasurer Kent Zeman said he did not know how much tax revenue the stadium would bring in because it had no assessed value yet. The Lorain County Board of Revisions is holding a hearing on the stadium and its assessment on March 28, he said.

Zeman added that even if the stadium is taxed, it won't mean any more money for the district.

Board member John Weigman replied that it would likely mean Avon homeowners would pay a little less in property taxes for the schools.

"We owe it to them to try," he said.

No action was taken.

In other news from the meeting:

Board president Susan Harrison addressed another Ohio Senate bill -- , which would impact the rights of school employees such as teachers to collectively bargain. Harrison read a statement:

"While there has been much debate and disagreement on the current legislation relating to collective bargaining, it has been and will continue to be the mission of the school board to provide an excellent education for the students of Avon while continuing our strong record of fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers of Avon. If it were not for the hard work and efforts of our staff, we would not be an excellent school district. The board and administration are committed to maintaining a relationship of respect, dignity and trust with our staff to continue the excellence."