Tuesday, March 2, 2010

A Message From C-TEC

C-TEC is asking the voters to approve a 1-mill operating levy in May of this year. Below is some information I recently received regarding some stats and some myths about C-TEC:

C-TEC is asking for a 1-mill operating levy.
We’ve been operating on the same millage since 1976 (2 mills).
C-TEC is restructuring.
Since the 2007-08 school year, we have cut over $2 million in operating expenses.
We will be cutting an additional $1.6 million from the budget at the end of this school year.
C-TEC is value.
C-TEC is the #1 Career Center in Ohio for Ohio Graduation Testing passage and obtaining a high school diploma.
C-TEC’s graduation rate is 99.6 %.
Over 90% of all C-TEC secondary and adult graduates are working or continuing their education.
C-TEC provides career-technical education for all ten school districts in Licking county.

Myths vs. Facts.
Myth: C-TEC needs to tighten its own budget before it asks for more money from the voters.
Fact: We already have. We have cut over $2 million since the 2007-08 school year. C-TEC cut over $800,000 in personnel, and will cut an additional $1.6 million in 2010, regardless of the levy results. Our faculty and staff have voluntarily taken pay freezes; full-time, non-teaching staff members have taken 10-day unpaid furloughs; staff members who are retiring are not being replaced; four administrative positions were cut prior to this year, and we will be cutting two additional administrative positions—regardless of the May levy outcome. If the May levy is unsuccessful, C-TEC will be cutting an additional $1.7 million.

Myth: An “operating levy” and a “construction levy” pay for the same things.
Fact: A construction levy pays ONLY for the construction of new or remodeled facilities; an operating levy pays for the day-to-day expenses that every school has. Operating funds include: utilities, maintenance, textbooks, lab equipment, busing, substitute teachers, computer equipment, technology, teacher salaries and benefits, special education, library materials, administrative assistants, high school food service, and more. The operations budget is what keeps a school running—every day.

Myth: C-TEC has a levy on the May ballot so that it can pay for legal expenses.
Fact: C-TEC has asked voters for a 1-mill operating levy three times in the last two years--before the legal judgment was issued in December. Currently, C-TEC is operating on the same millage that it collected in 1976. The 1-mill increase amounts to approximately $30 per year for the owner of a $100,000 home.

Myth: C-TEC should have had some kind of insurance so it wouldn’t have to pay such a large sum from the lawsuit.
Fact: C-TEC does have the appropriate insurance, but there is no insurance coverage for this type of lawsuit.

The Chamber is currently considering endorsing this levy. Check back for details.

- Posted by Cheri

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