policy matters Archives

Who pays property taxes to support services when the economy is dominated by nonprofits?

By Stephanie Czekalinski ● Government ● June 23, 2022

Fifty years ago, when Clevelanders needed to fund schools, pay for parks or expand libraries they relied on booming tax revenue from large companies. General Motors, Republic Steel Corp. and Ford Motor Co. employed thousands of people and provided a tax base to fund services for the community. But Cuyahoga County’s economy has changed.

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A cure for voter depression: Showing people their vote can make a difference

By Lee Chilcote ● Civic Engagement ● October 29, 2021

Cleveland residents need to be engaged all year round, not just at election time, and shown that their involvement can make a real difference in improving their communities. That’s one of the key takeaways of a poll released this week by Policy Matters Ohio, Cleveland Votes and other organizations ahead of the Tues., Nov. 2 election.

As Cleveland schools face pandemic exodus, some Catholic schools are growing

By Mark Oprea ● Education ● February 16, 2021

As Cleveland schools continue with remote learning, the district has experienced a pandemic exodus—2,252 students left between October 2019 and October 2020. Some parents are transferring their children to private Catholic schools for a strictly in-person education, despite the pandemic risks.