Columbus State Community College announced Wednesday it will not be moving forward with a proposed ballot issue this November that would raise property taxes to fund free tuition for Franklin County high school graduates.
CSCC President David Harrison said in a statement the college decided this isn't the moment to move forward with the proposal. The college announced the effort earlier this month, but the CSCC Board of Trustees didn't vote to advance the measure at the last meeting.
“While we are as committed as ever to preparing Central Ohioans for successful careers, we have decided that this isn’t the moment to move forward with this proposal,” Harrison said. “We appreciate that our community has many priorities, and we will continue to do our part to provide affordable, career-focused education that improves the lives of Central Ohioans.”
The levy would have raised property taxes by almost $200 for the median home owner in Franklin County with a house valued at $288,000. It was proposed at a time when increasing property taxes have put a strain on Ohioans and lawmakers are considering reforms to keep costs lower.
The measure would have reduced tuition to zero for new high school graduates living in Franklin County while providing a discount to other county residents.
A statement from the college said the decision to rethink the levy will not affect existing students who receive tuition-free education through the Columbus Promise, a program available to Columbus City Schools graduates. About 1,300 Columbus Promise students currently attend Columbus State.
CSCC said the college will ensure that Columbus Promise is available for the Columbus City Schools students who are starting at Columbus State this fall and for the high-school graduating class of 2027.
However, CSCC said funding hasn't been identified for Columbus Promise beyond 2027. The college said it will work with elected officials, business partners and community leaders to determine the future of the program.
“We thank all of the organizations throughout Central Ohio who are helping people lead better lives,” Harrison said. “While this initiative is not moving forward right now, we remain laser-focused on meeting our students where they are and helping them achieve their goals, debt-free.”
