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Tax And School Levy Pass In Cleveland

Cleveland officials celebrating passage of ballot items. [photo: Matt Richmond / ideastream]

In Cleveland, voters passed an extension of a tax levy for the city’s schools. The levy first passed in 2012 and will come up again for a vote in 2020. 

The CEO of Cleveland Schools, Eric Gordon, says the extension of the levy will allow the district to move on from what he called a period of disruption in the schools.

“I’m really interested in expanding our arts and music programming. I didn’t get to do that in the last four years, extra curriculars, more technology for kids, but all of those things in service to improved results," said Gordon.

Gordon was at the United Steelworkers of America meeting hall in Slavic Village for an Election Night watch party. Mayor Frank Jackson was also there. Jackson campaigned for an extension of the levy, along with a 0.5 percent increase of the city’s income tax, which also passed.

“Both these things are about the future of Cleveland – whether it’s in education, whether it’s investments, whether it’s in the quality of life in the neighborhoods, all this is about the City of Cleveland and positioning us for the future," said Jackson.

According to Jackson, the new income tax revenue will expand public services and close a structural deficit in the city’s budget.

Matthew Richmond is a reporter/producer focused on criminal justice issues at Ideastream Public Media.