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Contact Ohio Senators & Governor Now on TPP
Although summer break has just started, our work on retaining TPP funding from the state for the Solon Schools continues. Treasurer Tim Pickana traveled to Columbus yesterday to testify before the full Senate Finance Committee. Mr. Pickana urged the Senate panel to consider a commonsense solution to the TPP issue for districts like Solon that stand to lose millions of dollars in TPP reimbursement funding.
As you may recall, Solon and the coalition of other highly impacted TPP districts were successful in convincing the Ohio House to accept TPP amendments into its version of the state budget bill but those changes fall far short of the relief needed. Many of you have already sent letters or postcards or made calls to the senators asking for action on TPP. At this time we need to keep that pressure on the senators so they understand the importance of making a positive change in law on TPP funding. The Senate contact list and sample letter are posted on our district homepage at www.solonschools.org in the blue Announcements bar.
Additionally, we are beginning our contacts this session with Governor John Kasich. The governor has sought to usurp the TPP funding for use elsewhere in the budget since he entered office. It is important that he hear from residents about how the TPP phase out will affect our community.
To contact the governor, copy and paste the sample letter below (or personalize a letter of your own), into the contact form for Gov. Kasich at http://governor.ohio.gov/Contact/ContacttheGovernor.aspx.
You can reach the governor’s office by phone at (614) 466-3555. Tell them how importance it is that the state reverse or slow the TPP phase out for Ohio schools.
Pre-printed postcards to be sent to Sen. Matt Dolan and to Gov. John Kasich are available at the Solon Board of Education reception desk (weekdays 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) or by contacting Tamara Strom at tamarastrom@solonboe.org or (440) 349-2914.
It is imperative that these contacts occur now. The Solon Schools will continue working with lawmakers to propose solutions, but your feedback to the governor and the senators is crucial to support that work.
Thank you for your continued support on this critical funding issue for the Solon Schools.
SAMPLE LETTER TO EMAIL TO GOV. JOHN KASICH:
SUBJECT: CONTINUED TPP FUNDING FOR THE SOLON SCHOOLS
Dear Gov. Kasich:
The students, businesses and taxpayers in Solon will be significantly impacted by the rapid loss of funding if the TPP phase out is not slowed or reversed. This will jeopardize the financial stability of our schools.
School districts and local communities should not bear the sole responsibility for recouping the local revenues stripped in the wake of the tax policy change. Ending TPP funding would erode community confidence that locally raised revenues would remain local. This could irreparably harm future levy efforts. Our community has done its part to support the schools financially by passing school levies as needed. The gaping holes in our bottom line created by the complete and rapid phase out of TPP funding would be devastating. Highly impacted districts like mine would not be able to make reductions or pass additional operating levies locally to make up for the losses and still maintain the quality and integrity of the educational programs for students in our schools.
I fully recognize there are many challenges in creating a balanced state budget for the next biennium. At the same time, I urge you to support positive changes emerging from the legislature on TPP in the budget bill. It is time to stop shifting the tax burden to our local communities. I look forward to seeing a reversal in your continued commitment to strip these needed funds from our community. Our students, businesses and taxpayers are counting on your action.