“Today is Election Day, and many students remain focused on the McCain or Obama? frenzy. Unfortunately, many voters overlook the issues that could impact them the most: the local ballot. In Akron, Issues 8 and 6 have drawn the most attention. Issue 8 calls for the city to lease its sewer system to a private company, using the profits exclusively to grant scholarships to Akron youth to attend post-secondary schools in Akron.”
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Today is Election Day, and many students remain focused on the McCain or Obama? frenzy.

Unfortunately, many voters overlook the issues that could impact them the most: the local ballot.

In Akron, Issues 8 and 6 have drawn the most attention.

Issue 8 calls for the city to lease its sewer system to a private company, using the profits exclusively to grant scholarships to Akron youth to attend post-secondary schools in Akron.

The plan includes no new taxes.

Any student that graduates from any of the Akron Public Schools, St. Vincent/St. Mary, Hoban, Elms or any annexed Akron schools (Woodridge, Revere, Copley, etc) is eligible to receive this last dollar step up.

It is called last dollar because students must first exhaust the Federal and State resources before applying for some of the $200 million the city will set aside.

Also, the scholarship is only good for higher education in Akron such as the University of Akron or any trade or vocational school within city limits.

The downside. Recipients must live in Akron for 30 years if they do not want to repay any of the scholarship. If a student moves away from Akron, he or she will have to choice to either pay it back at once or continue paying the city’s income tax (2.25%) for the remainder of the 30-year period.

Opponents argue that this creates de facto indentured servanthood. Supporters claim that it would be cheaper than increasingly exorbitant student loans in the long run.

Mayor Don Plusquellic assured citizens that the new operator of the sewer system would have to follow the same EPA regulations and could make no layoffs. Also, sewer rates would not increase more than in the past.

The desired impact is that more families with small children will move to Akron and pass much-needed levies for the public school system and more companies will flock to the city in search of educated workers. Proponents of Issue 8 hope this will revitalize Akron’s economy.

Kalamazoo, Michigan, employed a similar plan, funded by private donations, which was successful.

Perhaps nothing on the ballot has caused as much of a stir as Issue 6, which would allow a casino to be built near Wilmington in Clinton County.

Supporters contend that Ohio is home to many casino gamblers who already give their money to neighboring states at the Windsor and Mountaineer Casinos.

They call for the freedom to gamble close to home while creating jobs and big revenue for the state of Ohio.

Opponents not only bring up the moral questions of gambling, but cite a loophole in the legislation.

As of now, the government would tax 30 percent of the profits. However, one clause states that if a new casino is built in the state at any time in the future, the government’s taxation would drop to that of the new competitor’s.

If an Indian casino ever makes its way to the Buckeye state, it could not be taxed by federal law. By this amendment to the state constitution, neither could this casino.

Akron residents should read about the other issues and judge for themselves so they do not gamble in the polls.

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