Trustees Support Sales Tax for Schools

TRUSTEES SUPPORT SALES TAX FOR SCHOOLS

COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University Board of Trustees on 
Friday (3/6) unanimously approved a resolution to support the 
passage of Issue 2, which seeks a one-cent sales tax increase to 
benefit primary and secondary schools in Ohio.

Voters will be asked to approve the measure on the May 5 
ballot along with Issue 1, which would allow the state to issue 
general obligation bonds for school construction.  The bonds 
carry a lower interest rate, which means more money would be 
available for actual construction.

Half of the proceeds from Issue 2, the sales tax, will 
directly benefit schools, and the other half will be used for 
property tax relief for individual homeowners.  The two issues 
are part of a legislative package to address the state's school 
funding system, which the Ohio Supreme Court deemed 
unconstitutional in a March 1997 decision.

Trustees said the tax proposal "represents a major step 
forward in improving school funding and performance in Ohio."

"The Board of Trustees of The Ohio State University 
encourages students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of higher 
education to support the passage of Issue 1 and Issue 2," said 
Alex Shumate, chairman of the trustees.  "The board encourages 
like-minded individuals and organizations to commit their talents 
and resources to assure a sustained investment in higher 
education by promoting additional funding for education at all 
levels in the state of Ohio."

In passing the resolution, trustees noted that the higher 
education system in Ohio could become vulnerable to significant 
budget cuts, which would be necessary to generate additional 
funding for primary and secondary schools in the absence of new 
tax revenues.

Trustees commented on the "significant positive impact" that 
Ohio State and all of higher education has on the state's economy 
and the quality of life of its residents.  They also said that 
"having academically prepared graduates of Ohio high schools 
enter our colleges and universities is of benefit to all."

Before they voted, trustees were urged to approve the 
resolution by three guests: C. William Swank, former vice 
president of the Ohio Farm Bureau and former president of the 
Ohio State Alumni Association; John Carney, president of the 
Undergraduate Student Government; and state Rep. E.J. Thomas, a 
Republican from Columbus and an Ohio State alumnus.

Swank recalled the long-standing problems of poorly funded 
rural schools.  "Rural kids know how to work hard and be 
responsible," he said.  "If we gave them the proper resources in 
school, they could do a whiz-bang job."

Carney told trustees that Ohioans must be reminded of the 
seamless nature of education from kindergarten through college.  
"By encouraging our family and friends to vote yes on issues 1 
and 2, we are promoting a kindergarten through college 
educational system, where every grade level is considered part of 
a puzzle, where every piece is as important as the other, and 
where sacrificing one piece leaves the puzzle incomplete," he 
said.

Thomas explained to trustees how the General Assembly chose 
to respond to the mandate of the Ohio Supreme Court to revamp the 
state's primary and secondary school funding system.  He also 
urged trustees to offer their full support for State Issues 1 and 
2.

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Contact:William J. Napier, executive assistant to the president
and secretary to the Board of Trustees, 614-292-2424.

Written by David Bhaerman, University Communications,
614-292-8422.