Valley would get a piece of the pie under Issue 3

Valley would get a piece of the pie under Issue 3

EDITOR:

As the debate over Issue 3 continues in Youngstown, I think it’s important to take a step back and look at the big picture. Youngstown, along with cities like Dayton, Canton and Akron, can and will reap certain benefits of the passage of Issue 3, without risking a dime.

We deserve a piece of the pie, and here’s no reason we should object to receiving $6.9 million every year split equally between Mahoning County and Youngstown. Additionally, our schools would receive over $4 million annually. Neighboring Trumbull County will benefit from $6.1 million overall and $4.1 million for their schools, and Columbiana County another $3.1 million and $2.1 million for heir schools.

The numbers don’t lie. That’s a whopping $27 million annually for the Mahoning Valley. I think we need to embrace the positive prospects of what this additional revenue would do for our communities. Youngstown continues to lay off public servants and continues to cut services. Meanwhile, our schools continue to make curriculum cuts as a result of less money received both from local levies and from the state. How can we refuse this money that would help retain municipal services and bring about or enhance educational advancements?

We should not draw a line in the sand and be opposed to the casinos for merely philosophical reasons. Rather we need to welcome the practical opportunity to add thousands of new jobs to Ohio’s payroll and spark economic development throughout our great state, including in the Valley.

In short, Youngstown and Mahoning Valley need jobs and the tax revenues for our local governments and schools. Let’s look at the bigger picture and vote yes on Issue 3.

HERB WASHINGTON, president

H.L.W. Fast Track

Youngstown