Editorial Gov. John Kasich pledges to support the oil and gas industry’s plans for an exploration boom in Ohio only if they’re done right. To ensure that, his administration needs to allocate adequate revenue to a state office that provides vital engineering and mapping services. The Ohio Geological Survey, a
Denise Smith Amos But new scholarship programs cuts into public school funds Hundreds of Ohio students who have special needs are getting help paying for private schooling for the first time this school year. Ohio’s new Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship will initially help pay for the private education of
David Kushma A new poll suggests that Ohio voters, at least for now, like Congressman Paul Ryan better than they like President Obama — and that Mr. Ryan’s addition to the Republican presidential ticket has helped Mitt Romney catch up to Mr. Obama in our state. At the same time,
Editorial The State of Ohio spends $7 billion a year on tax expenditures — a variety of breaks and loopholes in the state budget that often enable politically powerful industries and wealthy individuals to cut their tax bills. That amount is nearly as great as the projected $8 billion gap
Lucas Sullivan Columbus’ move to tax gambling winnings puts it at the table with the state’s other largest cities. The city council voted unanimously last week to impose the city’s 2.5 percent income tax on any winnings claimed by its residents on games of chance, including church raffles, the state-run
Olivera Perkins The fund that pays jobless benefits in Ohio went broke in 2009, and there’s no evidence the state is looking for a lasting solution. The sagging Ohio Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund needs a long-term fix to make it solvent, say experts and others who are urging officials to
Cornelius Frolik Consumer advocates advise to research pros and cons of these forms of credit before committing to them Many Ohioans who are desperate for cash are borrowing against their retirement savings accounts, hocking their possessions at pawn shops and taking out high-interest loans from payday lenders, according to a
Randy Tucker $17 overdrafts will no longer be charged on benefit debit cards. US Bank charges had been widely criticized. The bank that issues prepaid debit cards used to distribute unemployment insurance benefits in Ohio said Monday it will eliminate overdraft fees on the cards, which are used by more
Reginald Fields Against a stiff wind of opposition from several fronts, Gov. John Kasich on Friday renewed his call for steeper oil and gas drilling taxes to pay for an income tax cut for Ohioans. “The point is for out-of-state oil companies to pay more and all Ohioans pay less,”
Jackie Borchardt Proposal to raise oil, gas taxes and cut income tax stalled. Governor says farmers would benefit. Gov. John Kasich isn’t backing away from his frack-tax proposal, but said Friday he’s exploring ways to further lower the state’s income tax rates. Kasich introduced his plan to raise taxes on
Olivera Perkins CLEVELAND, Ohio — Northeast Ohio’s shaky housing market will grow more unstable and possibly drag down the local economy if banks don’t reduce the principals on more mortgages, foreclosure prevention advocates say. Some are urging lenders to grant more principal reductions as a way to deal with an
Foreign-born account for 5 percent of labor force in Ohio. Biggest influx comes from Mexico, India. Cornelius Frolik In the last 20 years in Ohio, the number of immigrant workers has more than doubled and the number of immigrant small business owners increased by more than 60 percent, according to
