Tri-C trustees approve levy request for November ballot

The Cuyahoga Community College board of trustees voted recently to place a 1.2-mill renewal levy with a 0.9-mill increase on the Nov. 4 ballot. Collection of the levy would begin in 2015 and run 10 years.

The proposed levy is meant to sustain Tri-C’s vital educational and economic impact in Northeast Ohio. The request asks Cuyahoga County property owners for an additional investment of $2.63 per month on a $100,000 home. 

“Every day, more good jobs require a college education,” Tri-C President Alex Johnson said. “Tri-C is the leading educator for careers in our community’s technical workforce and health care sectors, as well as for students preparing to enter four-year degree programs.” 

As an affordable entry point to higher education, Tri-C is crucial to the success of the Greater Cleveland economy and families. The levy is necessary to: 

• Keep college education affordable and accessible for Cuyahoga County families
• Enhance the region’s workforce competitiveness with job training and retraining
• Enable students to affordably earn college credits and accumulate less debt as they work toward an associate degree at Tri-C or a bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution
• Provide access to high-quality technical degrees and cutting-edge technology 

Tri-C has cut millions of dollars from its budget in recent years to save money and focus resources on the success of its 60,000 students. Without the levy, the college would have to cut an additional $40 million – a decrease that would force serious reductions in programs and limit access to higher education. 

“We believe this levy is essential for the continued success of the hard-working students, families, businesses and economy that Tri-C has served so effectively for more than 50 years,” said Jerry Kelsheimer, chairman of Tri-C’s board of trustees.