November 3 marks the General Election in Ohio. Accompanying Issues 1 on majority-minority populations for redistricting, Issue 2 on the creation of monopolies, and Issue 3 on the legalization of marijuana, Ballot Issue 13 deals with Sinclair Community College directly.
Issue 13 is a levy proposed by Sinclair to add 1 mill yearly through property tax. If passed, the levy would add on to what Montgomery county residents are already paying. In 2008, a levy passed granting Sinclair an additional 3.2 mill, adding roughly $98 dollars for the average $100,000 home value. This would put the bill around $133 annually.
The 2008 levy is to last until 2017 to 2018, where it will be voted on to renew or to expire. The levy, if issue 13 passes, will last eight years. The levy has received bipartisan support, gaining endorsements from Republican senator Peggy Lehner as well as several member of the Democratic Party. Local schools and community members, including the Montgomery County Commissioners and the Dayton NAACP Unit, have endorsed the levy.
Jeff Hoaglan, CEO and president of the Dayton Development Coalition expressed his support. “It is critical that we keep Sinclair strong and that we keep our foot on the economic gas pedal as a community,” Hoagland said. State law prohibits the spending of Montgomery county levy on locations other than Sinclair’s Montgomery County campus.
Sinclair has put in place a plan to consolidate health science programs and include updated learning resources. The complex would be built atop the parking lot between 4th and 5th streets.
One credit hour, in state is $99.03 at Sinclair; out of state it is an additional $50. Part of the lowest tuition in the state is the fact that Sinclair takes provisions to keep costs low for students. Part of that effort involves the popularity of adjunct faculty. Almost 50 percent of professors are part-time.
The proposal of two levies would add financial security, according to President of Sinclair Stephen Johnson. “One of things that we would like to do is not have all of our eggs in one basket, and have balanced levies and spread the risk,” Johnson said.
Sinclair’s Board of Trustees voted 7-0 for introducing the levy. Sinclair’s funding is mostly state appropriated as well as tuition. Sinclair is expected to bring in $700,000 less this fiscal year than prior due to economic downturns and continued stagnation in the housing market.
Signs are found all around Dayton reading “Sinclair for 13, For Good Jobs.” Citizensforsinclair.org contains more information on the levy. According to the site, “The Sinclair Levy, Issue 13, will: Make sure thousands of citizens are educated for good jobs, keep programs up to date and develop new ones in growing fields, provide state-of-the-art labs, technology and equipment and keep the cost of college education for good jobs affordable
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3 from 6:30am to 7:30pm.
Barton Kleen
Managing Editor