Dive Brief:
- Denver voters will have to decide whether to increase the local sales tax in the name of college students, with a ballot question proposing the creation of a municipal scholarship fund.
- The 8 cents per $100 purchase tax increase could raise $10 million per year that would be distributed by a new nonprofit board through support to other scholarship organizations and direct aid to students, according to Next City.
- Supporters say the new tax will help prepare local students for local jobs that require college degrees, giving people who otherwise couldn’t finance college a path to a degree.
Dive Insight:
While higher education funding from state legislatures is increasing, on average, it is a slow climb and one that follows a drop during the Great Recession. Students are feeling the squeeze, taking out more loans than their predecessors to get through college.
As the nation considers how to address student debt, cities — if not entire states — are stepping in to play a role, taking action with tuition-free proposals or better. City Colleges of Chicago’s Star Scholarship now offers qualifying students free tuition and books, as well as fee waivers to pursue associate degrees. The District of Columbia is said to be considering its own proposal.