The Campaign of 1994 or....

....How We Got a 2.85% Income Tax

Let me ask you a question - if you were offered a 64” HD flat screen TV with access to 900 channels, and you were told that it wouldn’t cost you anything… would you say Yes or No? Well you’d probably say, “Yes, thanks!”

Now what if you knew that that 64” TV with 900 channels was not a gift from the person offering it, but was in reality being taken out of someone else’s paycheck - a stranger who hadn’t been asked and had no say in the matter. Would you still say accept the TV?

Hold that thought while we go back to the joint income tax’s inception….

In November 2012 a non-resident business owner filed a complaint against Euclid Schools and the City of Euclid claiming the portion of the income tax the City collects from non-residents is illegally shared with the Euclid School District. For those of you not familiar with how the Joint Tax came to be, here’s a brief history.

Back in 1994 the Euclid Schools were facing much the same problems they face today – transiency, unfunded mandates, the high cost of special ed, health care costs.    

The City’s argument for raising taxes was a potential budget deficit in coming years. The rising cost of Fire and Police and a desire to increase the two forces necessitated the need for additional revenue.  

In 1994, Euclid Schools had 3 ways to raise revenue. In addition to property tax, Ohio schools could put an income tax on the ballot. That tax would function as a resident tax. Business profits and payrolls could not be taxed. All residents would pay a tax on their income, but social security income was exempt. The third option was a joint tax between city and schools on payroll and profits. The proposed rate would increase the City from 2 to 2.38%. Schools would receive .47%. The joint tax was selected and Council approved putting the .85% increase on the ballot.

The City and Schools targeted Seniors. The Schools touted the tax as an alternative to property taxes. The City’s message to Seniors was simple and repetitive – the increase will strengthen Safety Forces and you won’t have to pay it.

The City and Schools barraged voters with literature on all the wonderful things this increase would do to improve Euclid and its Schools. The Joint Income Tax was a dream come true. Seniors would have strong schools, they’d have strong safety forces and best of all – Seniors wouldn’t have to pay for any of it.  

In November voters approved the tax. It passed 8,715 to 8,126. Non-resident workers who couldn’t vote on the tax had to pay it from their wages. Businesses who weren’t asked for their input, had to pay it on their profits. 

In the 18 years since the tax passed, Euclid has lost population and wealth. Its police force has not increased. Housing values have plummeted. Neighborhoods have declined. Job growth is stagnant at best. The Schools remain in Academic Watch.

The business owner who filed the complaint has every reason to feel grieved. He was forced to buy a 64” widescreen TV and can’t even enjoy it.

For an expanded history, click The Campaign.  

R.I.P. Bridge Builder

I got to know Jerry Corbran in the ‘90s. I was new to Euclid and a bit outspoken in my ideas. He sought me out. He was always seeking out new voices and fresh faces to bring in to the political fray. I’m glad he found me.

There are people in life that are like the flames of a fire. They are spectacular, drawing others to them and lighting more flames until you have a conflagration. They burn hot and fast serving their immediate purpose, but then burn out.

There are others in life who are hot coals. They are the flame-starters. Jerry Corbran was a flame starter. For me, he was my touchstone, listening, advising, helping out at a moment’s notice.  

If greatness is measured by one’s accomplishments in life, then no, Jerry probably wasn’t so great. But if true greatness is, as I believe, measured by one’s faithfulness in life, then Jerry Corbran was one of the greatest men I have ever known. He was faithful to his God and to himself, to his family and to his friends, to his country and to his community.

Jerry fell asleep Sunday, Jan 13^th at the age of 87. His passing is the end of an era. He now awaits the return of his lord. Ours was a friendship that spanned nearly 20 years, though I must admit, he was a better friend to me than I was to him.

There is a poem that epitomizes the life of Jerry Corbran. It is “The Bridge Builder” by Will Allen Dromgoole….

An old man, going a lone highway,

Came at evening, cold and gray,

To a chasm, vast and deep and wide,

Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim;

The sullen stream had no fears for him;

But he turned when safe on the other side

And built a bridge to span the tide.

“Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim near,

“You are wasting strength with building here;

Your journey will end with the ending day;

You never again must pass this way’

You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide –

Why build you the bridge at the eventide?”

The builder lifted his old gray head:

“Good friend, in the path I have come,” he said,

“There followeth after me today

A youth whose feet must pass this way.

This chasm that has been naught to me

To that fair-haired youth may a pitfall be.

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;

Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”

I shall sorely miss Jerry’s counsel and his patience, but I am thankful he counted me as a friend and I am grateful for the bridge he built for me. He was after all, an engineer!

Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-8 Thurs Jan 17 at the Corrigan-Deighton Funeral Home, 21900 Euclid Ave. Mass will be celebrated Fri at Sts Robert & William on E.260th.

Issue 109 – An Issue Of Accountability

Issue 109 is an Emergency Levy of 9 mills for 10 years. The mailer from the Euclid School Board read, “We need Issue 109… to improve the quality of education for our children and our city.” History has shown that passage of 109 will not improve our schools.

Before I explain, let me say this. The vast majority of the parents and guardians of our students love their children. They want the best education and learning environment possible for them.

In contrast, the Euclid Schools have too long practiced the soft bigotry of low expectations. They operate under the assumptions that if you come from a single parent household or if you’re low income or if you’re African American you cannot be expected to learn. These assumptions are false. They discourage our youth and insult the adults who raise them. They perpetuate failure and weaken our neighborhoods.

Broken Promises: In 2008 the Schools promised that if voters passed a 6.9mill levy, schools would improve. Voters trusted the leadership and a $100,000 home saw its taxes increase $241.50 a year. Schools did not improve.

In 2009-10 Euclid Schools met only 4 of 26 standards – 10^th Grade Writing, 11^th Grade repeat tests Reading & Writing and Attendance. Adequate Yearly Progress was Not Met.

In 2010-11 Euclid Schools met 5 of 26 standards – 10^th Grade Reading & Writing, 11^th Grade repeat tests Reading & Writing and Attendance. Adequate Yearly Progress was Not Met. Graduation Rate 62.4%.

In 2011-12 Euclid Schools met 5 of 24 standards - 10^th Grade Writing, 11^th Grade repeat tests Reading, Writing, Math & Social Science. Adequate Yearly Progress Not Met. Graduation Rate 66.5%. 

Euclid Schools rank 3^rd from the bottom, above Cleveland and East Cleveland.

New Schools-New Names-Clean Slate: In 2009 the Euclid Schools asked for 3.5mills to raise $40 million to build 4 new schools. Voters were told new schools would cut operating costs about $1 million a year and scores would improve. Voters trusted the leadership and a $100,000 home saw its taxes increase $122.50 a year.

The first step in improving scores was to wipe the slate clean. Euclid Schools closed Indian Hills, Lincoln and Memorial schools. They re-named the new schools Arbor (Roosevelt), Shoreview (Upson), Bluestone (Thomas Jefferson) and Chardon Hills (Glenbrook). This move accomplished three things. It eliminated 3 failing schools. It wiped out previous years’ report cards. It cut off vouchers for students attending private schools. After this year, those students will be forced to return to the failing system to hopefully improve the district’s progress. When times are tough, you do what you gotta do.

Issue 109: If passed, the 9mill levy will cost the owner of a $100,000 home an additional $315 a year. This is on top of the net loss to homeowners whose values plunged but whose taxes will remain basically the same (see my HR920 Post) and the increase in shared income tax revenues. To justify the tax increase, the Euclid School Board lists 8 things the levy will accomplish.  

- Insure all students read at grade level by end of 3^rd grade. 

- Increase tests scores and graduation rates; and Improve college and workforce readiness.  

- Improve behavior and create a positive learning environment.   

- Ensure high quality instruction; Increase technology in the classroom; Work with local businesses to offer real world experience.  

- Efficiently and effectively manage district resources.

The net cost on an average home is .40 a day ($146/yr increase)

The mailer, signed by every Board member, reveals the following sad facts:

- Our kids are being passed to the next grade before they’ve mastered their subject matter

- Overall, their behavior is bad

- The quality of instruction is inadequate

- The district’s handling of resources is inefficient and ineffective

- The average home in Euclid is now worth only $47,000.

By the Board’s own admission, Euclid Schools are failing our students and their guardians and the tax payers who support them.

If you really want to improve our schools, here’s what you can do:

-        Vote No on 109. Give the schools one year to show taxpayers that the new schools and new leadership are living up to their promises of improved scores, a positive learning environment and better behavior.

-        Hold the schools accountable for their past promises and for the trust voters have placed in them. If there is improvement, then come back and ask for money. They will have earned it.

-        In Nov 2013 replace the current Board that has by its own admission, overseen the inefficient and ineffective use of district resources; and has failed to implement policies that improve student behavior, academic achievement and graduation rates.

It’s time to raise our expectations and our standards for the Schools, for the students and for the teachers. It’s time for accountability.