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Toledo Public Schools (TPS)/Issue 1 – A 5.8 mill, 5-year additional levy consisting of 4.3 mills for current operating expenses and 1.5 mills for permanent improvements. The Chamber Board and TASBA support the levy, which, if passed, will provide the district with the funds to continue existing programs as well as increase student transportation and staff retention efforts.
Children Services Board (CSB)/Issue 7 – A 1.75 mill (1.4 mill re-newal plus .35 mill additional), 7-year levy for support of children services and the care and placement of children. The Chamber Board and TASBA Board support the levy. Both boards recognize the value of CSB services to the community, as well as the agency’s need for continued funds to support a case load that is expanding due to state mandates that require it investigate cases of child abuse, neglect, health issues and human trafficking and provide services to affected children.
Lucas County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board (MHRSB)/Issue 8 – A .5 mill, 10-year renewal levy for the purpose of providing mental health and addiction services. The Chamber Board and TASBA support the levy, acknowledging that the MHRSB is serving more clients while faced with decreases in state and federal funding.
Area Office on Aging (AOA) Senior Services/Issue 9 - A .6 mill, (.45 mill renewal plus .15 mill additional), 5-year levy for the purpose of providing and maintaining senior citizens services and programs. The Chamber Board and TASBA support the levy. Both boards understand the need for the services provided by AOA to seniors in Lucas County, particularly in helping to meet the community’s demand for respite care for Alzheimer’s patients.
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.
About the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce: The Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce, serving a membership of over 2000 businesses, is the collective voice for the Toledo Region’s business community. The Chamber is the recipient of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives 2014 Chamber of the Year award for programmatic excellence.
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