URBAN COALITION
TOLEDO, OHIO

A Community Coalition of Citizen Groups Focusing on Accountability, Funding and Reform in Public Education

In November 2002, a 4.49 mill, 28 year bond issue was narrowly approved to rebuild Toledo Schools.
Bond Issues do not have reduction factors applied to assure that revenue remains the same when properties are reassessed. Therefore, every time there is a reassessment that increases property values, there is an increase in taxes to Toledo property owners.
The levy was assessed beginning January 1, 2003 and would raise a little more than $13 million. Over 28 years that amounts to $366 Million.
On January 1, 2004 property taxes for Toledo were increased to reflect almost an 8% increase in total property values for TPS. This change means Toledo taxpayers are now paying almost $14 million for this bond issue. This amounts to a $27 million tax increase over the remaining life of the bond levy assuming that property values stay stable.

Concerns about the Building Program - contains analysis, narrative and recommendations of SOS and the Urban Coalition.
Dr. Sanders memo to the Oversight Committee in which Coalition concerns about enrollment and costs are supported.
LGB (Construction Manager) August 3, 2004 report about "Recent Construction Material Cost Activity" - Be sure to read the last paragraph of this report!
Chart showing proposed changes in building schedule which supports concerns about Libbey and its feeder schools.
Dejong & Associates May 2004 Enrollment Report Projections showing major declines in student enrollment.

SOS and Urban Coalition Analysis of enrollment projections.
January 31, 2003 PPS report, Community Input and Recommendations regarding the Formation and Operation of the Oversight Committee and the Community Engagement Process for the Ohio School Facility Commission – Toledo Public Schools Rebuilding Program. This report contains our concerns many of which we discuss in our update and which at the time seemed remote. Our concerns when this report was issued 21 months ago now seem very accurate and are coming to pass.
Effects of Cost Overruns - A chart that shows how increasing costs will jeopardize schools in the last project phases
November 2004 Levy Information - August 4, 2004 Coalition Briefing