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The Truth Endorses Issues 1, 7, 8, 9
Issue 1 is the Toledo City School
District request for a 5.8 mills additional tax levy over a
five year period. The district is seeking additional funding
from home owners to restore transportation for students to
the pre-crisis level of several years ago, to increase pay
for teachers and principals, to increase services for gifted
and special education students and to expand early childhood
education offerings.
We have
great faith in Superintendent Romules Durant, Ed.D, and his
staff. We like the direction the district headed with such
offerings as early childhood education, the Jones Leadership
Academy, the elimination of middle schools (both from a
academic and cost standpoint), for example.
While the
most recent state report card did not show the district to
its best advantage in either the “performance index” or
“indicators met ratings,”, what was encouraging were the
marks received for achievement in adding value and the fact
that student population decline seems to have ended.
Vote FOR
Issue 1
Issue 7 is a request from Lucas
County Children Services for a 1.4 mill renewal and a 0.35
mill additional levy for a seven year period.
On any
given day LCCS is ensuring the safety of 1,300 children – 80
percent of whom are under age 12; 55 percent under age five,
30 percent under age one and 20 percent preparing for
adulthood.
For years
LCCS has rendered stellar service to the citizens of Lucas
County while faced with ever-dwindling financial resources –
as are most public agencies.
The agency
oversees foster families, facilitates adoption, case manage
and collaborate with a host of other service providers in
order to support its mission of protecting children and
promoting families.
Vote FOR
Issue 7
Issue 8 is a request by Lucas
County Mental Health & Recovery Services for a 0.5 mill
renewal tax levy for 10 years. It’s a renewal of a levy
originally passed in 1985. The agency’s clientele is
comprised of a disproportionately high number of African
Americans.
Let’s face
it, there is no controversy about the size of the levy and
it is a renewal, not a request for additional funds. The
controversy with this levy is the 10-year length of the
request and whether the agency will or can continue to be
accountable over such a period of time. However, the MHRSB
has always operated with 10 year levies, according to the
agency, in order to effectively plan for the long-term
stability of consumers and agencies.
Moreover,
the three separate levies – which total 2.5 mills – are not
concurrent. Every four years, the voters have an opportunity
to reject one of the levies if the agency is seen not to be
accountable.
The agency
currently funds a number of community groups that are either
African-American led or have a large African-American
clientele such as TASC, New Concepts and UMADAOP (all led by
African Americans).
Vote FOR
Issue 8
Issue 9 is a Lucas County Senior
Citizens request for a 0.45 renewal and a 0.15 additional,
five year additional tax levy. The smallest request of the
four is sought in order to maintain and expand services to
the fastest growing segment of the population – senior
citizens.
This levy
will help agencies such as the Area Office on Aging to
provide home-bound meal delivery, adult care, senior center
services and transportation services
Vote FOR
Issue 9
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