August 12 , 2021 The Beacon • 3
State rep visits career center
Submitted
Coshocton County Career Center principal Eddie Dovenbarger , left , State Rep . Kevin Miller and Superintendent Matt Colvin discuss the upcoming tax levy .
By Marianne Austin
New State Rep . Kevin Miller , former lieutenant with the Ohio State Highway Patrol , visited the Coshocton Career Center to learn about new programs , school funding and the upcoming levy .
Superintendent Matt Colvin , on his official first day , presented a briefing to Miller and local media on what the levy is about .
“ Understand that I haven ’ t had a levy committee meeting yet . This is my first day ,” Colvin said . “ I ’ m putting a levy committee together . I have all the names . I ’ ve done all the leg work . I ’ m waiting to get with our treasurer and Mr . Raach and go over a few things .”
Colvin went on to discuss facts about prior levies . The career center opened in 1978 . Its first operating levy , a 10-year operating / construction levy , passed in 1975 . The school opened on a 2-mil , 10-year levy , which was renewed in 1985 and went into effect in 1986 . That ran until 2001 when the board placed a half-mil levy to operate and perform renovations .
“ So we have gone 20 years without a new operating levy ,” Colvin said . “ We know that any idea of an increase in property tax is unsettling to people . We get it because people are already living within their means . We have great news : Supporting this tax will have a minimal impact on the community ; it is literally cents on the dollar .”
The continuance tax levy will cost tax payers the same amount as the PI Levy back in 2015-20 that ran out . The tax will not change .
A mil is equal to one dollar for every thousand dollars . Based on property values , one could see a slight change . The levy allows continued operation and continual growth . Six years ago it was $ 35 per year based on a $ 100,000 home .
“ That ’ s less than $ 3 a month and less than 10 cents a day ,” Colvin said . “ Here is the bottom line : With the increase in enrollment and continued loss of revenue and closure of AEP , it is crucial that this levy passes for the sustainability and success of our students and our programs . The support of our taxpayers will enable us to maintain and expand on our programs , allowing us to continue to build on what we have to offer in meeting the high demand of jobs in our local area .”
Currently , the career center has 350 students but only has funding for 200 . State funding has been frozen since 2019 , so the school has been absorbing the cost of increased enrollment and the loss of funding from AEP .
“ We have waiting lists for three of our 13 programs , ( and ) if the levy doesn ’ t pass , we will have to cut 15 % of our staff ,” Colvin said . “ I truly believe that this school can be a beacon for our county . It will give our young men and women the opportunity to go out and rejuvenate our county . We ’ re also looking at offering adult education down the road . We believe in the build our own workforce mind-set .
“ We ’ re currently redoing our back hallway right now and our training and industry hallway . We are going to have nice , shiny , new everything when the kids get back .”
Miller said he comes from a similar background to youths in Coshocton County . “ My high school was very similar , surrounded by corn fields . We had Tractor Day at my school ,” he said . “ It was a very small high school . I worked on a farm up through junior high school and college . My background is very small town rural America .
“ I graduated from Ohio State , got on the Ohio Patrol shortly after and began my career in public service with State Highway Patrol for 22-plus years . A public career wasn ’ t on my radar , but I was looking to see what I wanted to do after highway patrol . I talked with my wife about things going on in the nation , and this was an opportunity to do something more than just complain .”
As a four-year advocate at the State House for the Highway Patrol as a legislative liaison , Miller had the opportunity to meet the reps and senators and see how the process works — everything from explaining pros and cons of the bill ’ s effects on the agency , to testifying on a few occasions , to when bills were passed to do the analysis and send that out to the fields so the troopers were enforcing the right laws .
“ So that ’ s where I am at , and I ’ m really excited to have this opportunity to continue my public service in a different way ,” Miller said . “ I retired from the Highway Patrol , and this is my full-time job . I have a big district : all of Coshocton , all of Perry and half of Licking County . It ’ s important that I ’ m out in all of my district , meeting people , talking to people so that I can advocate for my district .”
For anyone wanting to take a personal tour of the school , call the career center at 740-622-0211 .
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