County Issue 3 - Tri-C Renewal & Increase Levy

COUNTY ISSUE 3 — Tri-C Renewal & Increase Levy 

Ballot Language:  A renewal of 1.9 mills and an increase of 0.4 mill to constitute a tax for the benefit of the Cuyahoga Community College District for the purpose of providing for payment of operating costs for educational services at a rate not exceeding 2.3 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to 23 cents for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for ten years, commencing in 2019, first due in calendar year 2020.

YES vote means approval of the proposed levy.

NO vote means rejection of the proposed levy.

League Explanation of County Issue 3: Homeowners, who have already been paying $131 annually on a property appraised at $100,000, would experience a tax increase of $14 annually, beginning in 2020 and continuing for 10 years. The revenue from this tax levy would help keep college affordable for thousands of county residents on four downtown and suburban campuses. The tuition per credit-hour at Tri-C is currently $114.54, the lowest cost for higher education anywhere in Ohio. Along with many academic courses, Tri-C offers two-year certificate programs required for many careers, and students can also transfer credits earned at Tri-C to Cleveland State University or other 4-year colleges.  

Pros: Tri-C is the community’s leading provider of higher education. The increase is necessary, along with the 2019 tuition increase of $10 per credit hour, in order to keep offering the school’s nearly 40 study programs at continuing low rates. Available jobs in the Cleveland area increasingly require a college degree or other credential of special skills and training. Only property owners will be directly affected by this this levy’s small increase, although some landlords may pass the expense along to their tenants.  

Cons: Some homeowners may find that any increase at all in their property taxes creates an increased burden for them. Some homeowners may also feel that they do not directly benefit from the educational opportunities offered at Tri-C.

League of Women Voters

The 2019 Voters Guide to Candidates and Issues is published as a public service by the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland, CH-UH and FutureHeights. The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan organization whose mission is to encourage the informed participation by citizens in government. FutureHeights is a nonprofit community development organization. Election Day is Nov. 5, 2019. Polls are open 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

Read More on Voters Guide
Volume 12, Issue 10, Posted 12:18 PM, 10.07.2019