Rein in state tax loopholes
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 that Gov. John Kasich and […]
Ohio casino cities tax your winnings
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 lottery and other drawings. Even […]
Ohio fund paying jobless benefits out of money, but state not working on long-term fix
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 make it a priority. And […]
Tough economic times send more Ohioans to savings, pawn shops
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 Dayton Daily News analysis. Loans […]
Bank nixes fees for jobless
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 than 300,000 jobless residents. Starting […]
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, with opposition from all angles, renews call for drilling tax hike to back income tax cut
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,” Kasich said at a Statehouse […]
Kasich works on plans to lower income tax rates
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 oil and gas taken from […]
Ohio ranks near top for underwater mortgages
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 increasing number of “underwater” mortgages […]
Ohio’s immigrant workforce lags U.S.
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 a new report. But an […]
Nuns vs. Romney: The Sisters Hit the Battleground State of Ohio
Christine Howey “Nuns on the Bus” may sound like a wacky new Betty White sitcom featuring a feisty group of sisters who won’t be put in the corner by their church. And except for the comedy film part, that’s a pretty good description. This rolling event features a group of Roman Catholic nuns on a […]
Slow growth leaves many competing for few jobs
Catherine Candisky It took 513 “nos” before Monica Hooper got a “yes.” Finally, this week, the 39-year-old single mother of two was offered a temporary job with an import-export company. If all goes well, it could lead to permanent employment. “I can’t believe it,” said Hooper, of Columbus. “It’s such a relief.” Hooper lost her […]
SharedWork program could help prevent layoffs in Ohio
Tiffany L. Parks A House bill designed to allow employers and employees to work together by reducing work hours in exchange for eliminating potential layoffs has made its way to the Senate. House Bill 484, sponsored by Rep. Mike Duffey, R-Worthington, would create the SharedWork Ohio program. The initiative would carve out a program for […]