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On Nov. 5th, vote “Yes” for Issues 1, 2, and 24.
Toledo Public Schools (Issue 24) – A 6.5 mill, 5 year renewal levy for operation of the Toledo Public Schools (TPS). The Chamber Board and TASBA Board support the levy and recognize the importance of TPS to the community, as well as district’s efforts to address changes in education, technology issues and community outreach for the benefit of its students.
Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Issue 2) – A 1.8 mill continuous replacement and new levy for operation of programs and services by the Lucas County Board of Developmental Disabilities (LCBDD). The Chamber Board and TASBA support the levy with reservations. While both boards shared a concern that the amount of the levy request is aggressive given the still-sluggish state of the local economy, both acknowledge the community need for the services provided by LCBDD.
The preceding levies were reviewed by the Chamber’s Levy Review Subcommittee, which researches and studies levy requests and makes recommendations to other Chamber committees, culminating with the Chamber and TASBA Boards. This process ensures that levy requests are examined by a broad cross-section of the Chamber’s membership and reflect the views of the business community.
The Chamber’s comprehensive levy review process includes presentations by the agencies making the levy request, an examination of the impact of the levy request on both the agency and taxpayers, and a review of agency financials to better understand the need behind the request.
The Chamber Board and TASBA Board also considered the levy request for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority (Issue 1) – A 0.4 mill 5 year renewal levy for all purposes of the Port Authority, including its economic and jobs development programs. The Chamber Board and TASBA Board support the levy request, noting the Port Authority’s ability to leverage $10.5 million in past levy funds to secure more than $83 million in state and federal grants for facility and community development projects that benefit the region. Both boards as well as La Prensa consider the Port Authority to be a significant economic development partner to the Chamber.
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