Even though there is no budget shortfall, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and House Republicans propose squeezing $95 million out of Ohio’s current budget without using the money to restore critical services. The bill does not include a defined plan for use of the funds cut from various agencies.
Last year’s U.S. “Budget Control Act” reduced federal support for states, compounding fiscal woes here and across the nation. Unless Congress acts to change this provision, Ohio can expect to lose about 9 percent of the federal money we receive for many programs in 2013. Cuts will continue through 2021.
This survey of local school finance officials reveals alarming levels of fiscal distress at districts across the state, whether they are poor, wealthy or in between. The cuts being discussed ??” to staffing levels, course offerings, arts and extracurriculars ??” will hurt Ohio students for years to come. Representatives from
The anticipated boom in natural gas and oil in Ohio stands to create great private wealth. But Ohio’s severance tax, which specifically captures a share for the public good, is low. Policy Matters recommends that Ohio’s lawmakers raise its severance tax in order to retain a fair share of wealth
Ohio is among the many states that fail to leverage corporate subsidies for good jobs, according to a new national study. “The least we should do is require that these companies create good jobs that allow workers to support and care for their families,” says Wendy Patton of Policy Matters.
Income inequality in America is growing. Between 1940 and 1979, U.S. income grew (in real dollars) by enough for every American to earn $28,749 more. The richest 10 percent got about a quarter (28 percent) of that, and the bottom 90 percent shared the rest. In stark contrast, between 1979
Recent Presentation Wendy PattonJune 13, 2011Columbus, Ohio
The past decade has been tough on Ohio. Wages for the typical worker dropped more here than in any other state. Our unemployment rate rose in August for the third straight month, to 9.1 percent. As the economy falters, budget cuts threaten to keep us in a slump. The new
Twelve federal legislators, including Ohio Senator Rob Portman, have been appointed to a committee charged with developing a proposal to cut an additional $1.2 trillion from the federal debt. The proposal they present could change Ohio. If they replace the lost revenue and return to tax levels that sustained a
[HTML1] The state budget deepens fiscal problems for local governments. The billion dollars taken from revenue sharing programs that historically supported counties, communities and local services translates into thousands of cuts to services ranging from street lighting, sewer districts, port authorities and parks to children’s services, senior services, health and
House Bill 153, the Ohio budget bill for state fiscal years 2012 and 2013, will impose enormous cuts on critical public services, yet provides hundreds of millions of dollars in tax cuts, breaks and amnesties and even repeals the estate tax, which impacts only 8 percent of Ohio estates, provides
Schools feel state budget cuts
Ohio’s constitution requires “a thorough and efficient system of common schools throughout the state.” It’s time for state government leaders to acknowledge that mandate, and for taxpayers and employers to insist that they comply with it. Over the last century, the Ohio Supreme Court repeatedly has addressed the need for