Lawrence County

Impact of Ohio’s 2012-13 state budget (HB 153)

Ohio’s budget for 2012 and 2013 cut local government aid by a billion dollars.  This means cuts in services we depend on, from road repair and emergency services to crossing guards, senior transportation and child protective services.  What are the implications for Lawrence County?

The state cut the Local Government Fund to the county, forcing Lawrence County to make cuts to jurisdictions within the county. The state also cut direct funding to municipalities, and slashed reimbursements for taxes it had eliminated, taxes that businesses and utilities had paid to local governments. School districts and the public library fund were also cut. Losses in calendar years 2012 and 2013, compared to 2010 and 2011, include, among others:

• Public Library Fund…………….. -$118 thousand
• Schools…………………………. -$4.7 million
• County operations……………… -$1.9 thousand             (includes county undivided fund)
• Ironton………………………….. -$71 thousand

Loss to health and human service levies

• County mental health/developmental disabilities………… -$208 thousand
• Lawrence county health district……………………………. -$15 thousand

Notes and quotes

“I am very concerned that these layoffs are going to reduce the services to the city of Ironton dramatically.”