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Voters approve levy providing Cincinnati Public Schools with $65 million renewal

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Posted at 10:56 PM, Nov 05, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-06 10:00:29-05

Cincinnati voted Tuesday night to renew a tax levy providing millions in emergency funding to Cincinnati Public Schools over a period of 10 years.

Issue 12, which had been renewed three times before, passed by a wide margin: 28,204 for to 10,904 against. The renewal will ensure CPS continues to receive $65 million for the district’s annual operating budget over the course of the upcoming decade, helping to fund operating costs such as teacher salaries and transportation.

CPS Board of Education president Carolyn Jones told WCPO shortly before Election Day that not renewing it would force the district to cut teaching and paraprofessional positions in order to make ends meet.

Critics, however, said 10 years was too long and pushed for a 5-year levy that would have allowed the district to course-correct in the middle of the decade if necessary.

On Tuesday, after the levy passed, superintendent Laura Mitchell thanked parents and supporters.

“The ten-year renewal of this $65-million levy will support expanded choices and opportunities for our students and families, support our students’ pursuit of postgraduation pathways in college, military or career, and ensure that our district is a destination for all Cincinnati families,” she wrote.