Hundreds of teachers and their supporters streamed through downtown Columbus on Wednesday demanding lower class sizes, higher pay and an end to tax incentives for local developers.
The teachers鈥� union for Columbus City Schools, which represents some 4,300 employees, is with the district. Columbus Education Association president John Coneglio argues offering property tax breaks to major companies saps money that could go to the classroom.
鈥淭ime and time again, when educators bring these issues up 鈥� whether it is at the bargaining table, at the building level or with city leaders we are told there is no money,鈥� Coneglio said to boos from the crowd. 鈥淭ake a moment to look around鈥攄oes it look like there is no money?鈥�
Coneglio took particular aim at CoverMyMeds, a Columbus-based health care software company that was for $1.3 billion. Coneglio says CoverMyMeds and its downtown headquarters will avoid more than $50 million in property taxes thanks to the abatement it received from the city.
鈥淲e cannot continue to return time and time again to individual taxpayers to shoulder the burden of funding our schools while the richest among us don鈥檛 help push the cart,鈥� Coneglio says.
I鈥檓 following the CEA march today in downtown Columbus. Teachers want lower class sizes, higher pay and an end to abatements. Hear more tonight on 鈥� Nick Evans (@nckevns)
Because schools relying on property tax receipts, Coneglio argues those incentives aren鈥檛 sustainable.
鈥淐olumbus City Schools estimates that from 2000 to 2016, they lost over $148 million in property tax revenue to abatements alone, and that was before CoverMyMeds,鈥� he says.
The teachers union鈥檚 current contract expires August 18, the first day of classes. In a statement, the school district said it would not comment while negotiations are ongoing but that it respects the union鈥檚 right to march and it鈥檚 pleased organizers are 鈥渇ocusing on what our students deserve.鈥�
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