Western-Star.com

In all seriousness now and looking at the issue, without going into any rantings and ravings and tossing people under the bus here is how I truly look at this. The issue of the levy Sinclair is presenting in hopes of getting their renewal plus an increase passed by us the "citizens" of Montgomery County.

FIRST of all, when Sinclair came to us in 1998 asking for help we understood that it would be for only 10 years. This was to help them to establish one of the best community colleges in the state of Ohio.

Sinclair did just that, of course the property owners "helped" them do that a big way with a whole lot of our hard earned money. Before anyone asks I did vote for that issue and I had no problems doing so because I believed that once they became established and at the ten year mark it would stop.

SECOND of all every time the county came around and reappraised our property and raised the valuation what happened. Sinclair also received an increase. That was the added bonus to Sinclair from us the "property owners".

THIRD Sinclair wanted to expand into other areas because why, they were land locked here in Dayton. With all the criticism towards DDN and other companies who "scooted" out of the city there was no way Sinclair could do that. At least not without being "bashed repeatedly" by us. Sure they could have relocated to anywhere in the county but they knew where their bread and butter came from, us who helped pay for that campus downtown, block by block.

FOURTH in order to expand and "capture" some of that untouched resource, students (young and old) they had to consider relocation. So they established classrooms in Greene County. This was to get those wanting a four year degree but who just did not have the funds to pay for Wright State or other higher priced Universities. These individuals use the "two year" degree offered as a stepping stone into the pricey Universities because why? Most of the credit hours they take at Sinclair can be "transferred". Kind of cuts the students cost quite a bit now doesn't it.

WPAFB civilian and military workers became a great source of income to Sinclair. Then at the current rate of $73.50 per credit hour. All I can say is damn that is a whole lot more than those attending here in Montgomery County pay. Sinclair made a good bit of money off of those citizens in Greene county. But did you notice something? Sinclair did NOT build a campus they only "rented" class rooms at WPAFB and at some of the local schools. Cheaper than a campus so therefore a whole lot more money into the bank.

FIFTH now this is where my kindness came to an end. Warren County was Sinclair's next target. One of the fastest growing areas around us, a whole lot more than what is going on here in Montgomery County. An untapped resource of what, students (young and old). The number of students they could get to attend was amazing. Too many to spread out in rented classrooms all over the area. BUT Sinclair ran into a road block, Sinclair could not get a levy passed to support them in their wishful dreams.

Sinclair went back to the drawing board and with a size-able donation, from a donor, whose name I shall not print here, they were able to purchase the ground and start building their campus in Mason. With that donation, and the subsidy from the state of Ohio and by charging the students $73.50 per credit hour they are now up and running, or rather teaching.

I think that they have had enough from us the property owners. Ten years should have given them plenty of time to have laid the groundwork out. Plenty of time to have raised that tuition to not only the residents of Montgomery County but to those coming to the Dayton campus from other counties.

SIXTH with the increase we incurred when the human services levy passed the increases in property tax was "eye opening" to say the least. I had a jolt and I do not mind telling you that I did NOT research what the impact of the human services would be.

So in summary, as if you really have read any of this with the hit that we, the property owners took with the human services levy and the hit Sinclair wants to give us with their levy I will vote no.

Sorry Sinclair but you had the past ten years to get your ACT together and find funding another way. For that matter two years ago Sinclair started planning on how to get this levy and the increase passed on to us the property owners. That was "two years" they could have worked on increasing the tuition here.

Greene county and Warren county students (young and old) pay $73.50 per credit hour and I think it is about time for the students (young and old) in Montgomery county to do the same.

VOTE NO ON ISSUE 39 MAKE SINCLAIR PUT THE COST INTO THE TUITION NOT ON OUR PROPERTY TAXES.