Voters in Akron, Ohio, didn’t like the smell of a ballot measure that would have provided scholarships to local residents to attend the University of Akron or one of the city’s trade schools.
The scholarships were to have been paid for with money raised by leasing the city’s sewage system to a private firm. It had been proposed by Mayor Don Plusquellic as a way to attract new residents to the city and keep talented students from leaving town after graduating from high school.
But the plan was rejected in Tuesday’s election. Opponents raised fears that a private company would cut services or raise utility rates, Cleveland’s Plain Dealer reported today. —Eric Kelderman
