A legend on a T-shirt states, “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” That statement alone should convince voters to pass both Cleveland issue 4 and Cuyahoga County Issue 6.
Issue 4 would authorize the floating of bonds to pay for the construction of 20 to 22 new schools and the renovation of 20-plus additional buildings in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. It would also generate $2.5 million a year for building maintenance — all without raising taxes.
The great thing is, state funding will provide $2 for every $1 CMSD spends on construction. So Issue 4 will bring an estimated $256.8 million of our tax money back from Columbus to Cleveland to benefit the schools.
Issue 4 will cost the owner of a $50,000 home about $44.10 per year, less than what that owner is now paying for the 2001 CMSD construction bond issue, which expires next year. That bond issue paid for building and renovating 41 schools, including the Cleveland School of the Arts (pictured), which will move into a brand new building next year on the University Circle site of the old crumbling school. One of CMSD’s most successful schools, it almost closed at one point due to the condition of the old building.
CMSD prudently refinanced and accelerated the payment of the bond to save taxpayers $42.2 million. In addition, the district adopted the city’s Community Benefits Agreement for future construction to prioritize employment of city residents, minorities, women and small businesses on CMSD projects. So Issue 4 is a winner all around.
So too is Issue 6, a renewal of a 2.1 mill levy and an increase of 0.9 mill for operating costs for Cuyahoga Community College. Tri-C has consistently been ranked as one of the top community colleges in the nation. And as our workforce needs retraining for today’s jobs, the institution has been on the cutting edge in terms of providing the type of education employers demand.
Without the funding provided by Issue 6, Tri-C would have cut to $40 million a year from the opportunities it offers county residents for a quality, affordable education. That funding would cost homeowners only $2.63 a month per $100,000 property valuation.
Tri-C allows students to earn two years of college credit at very low cost, so that they can go on to earn higher degrees at other institutions and graduate with far less debt than they might otherwise. Issue 6 has the endorsement of hundreds of educational, health and business professionals, as well as virtually all the major institutions in the county. It deserves our support too.