GOP tax plan for Ohio: fair or flawed?
This article by Jim Siegel cites research by Policy Matters showing that “Most Ohioans would pay more in property and sales taxes while also paying new taxes on downloaded books and music, in exchange for state income-tax cuts during the next three years.” Business owners would receive an even larger income-tax cut under the tax […]
Health care advocates say time running out to expand Medicaid
Jackie Borchardt of the Dayton Daily News picked up on our collaboration with Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage. Health care advocates said Monday they haven’t given up on convincing state lawmakers to expand Medicaid coverage to 275,000 poor Ohioans. Cathy Levine, co-chair of Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage, said expansion must be decided by June […]
In depth: Districts reach for budget axe
Districts prune and chop spending The Enquirer’s Jessica Brown writes that “springtime has lately represented one thing: Budget cuts.” It’s the time of year when superintendents and treasurers get out their budget axes and start figuring out how how to prune spending without decimating the education they provide. She notes that the Cincinnati district has […]
Breaking Down the Tax Shift in the Budget
Wendy Patton, state fiscal project director for Policy Matters Ohio, talks about how the tax changes in the Kasich administration’s budget proposal would affect Ohioans. The budget segment of this podcast of The State of Ohio begins at about the 2:25 mark, with Wendy appearing at about 4:40.
Tax strategy and Ohio’s budget
On WOSU’s All Sides with Ann Fisher, Research Director Zach Schiller breaks down the impact of Gov. John Kasich’s proposed changes to Ohio tax policy. Zach joins the program about 16 minutes in. http://wosu.org/2012/allsides/tax-strategy-and-ohios-budget/
Proposed law would help Ohio companies avoid layoffs, supporters say
This piece by Andrew J. Tobias in the Dayton Daily News gives a good overview of SharedWork Ohio, a bill working its way through the legislature that “would allow Ohio employers looking to cut costs through layoffs to instead temporarily reduce all employees’ hours by 10 to 50 percent. Meanwhile, employees could collect up to […]
Liberal Think Tank Attacks Tax Hikes In Governor’s Proposed Budget
From the Statehouse News Bureau Governor John Kasich has been touting a massive tax reform plan this week. He’s labeling it an overall 1.4 billion dollar net tax cut. But critics are now highlighting a study that contends that nearly half of all Ohio taxpayers could wind up paying more. Statehouse correspondent Bill Cohen files […]
Uniform protection
Editorial State Reps. Cheryl Grossman and Michael Henne have the right idea. The Republican lawmakers want to bring uniformity to the municipal income tax in Ohio. They have in mind easing a burden on businesses, firms often facing multiple jurisdictions, rules and forms, the hassle diverting precious attention from first purposes. In early November, Grossman […]
Ohio to roll out training vouchers
Jessie Balmert Vouchers to train current employees might go quickly as businesses seek to snap up the long-awaited and elusive earmark. Applications for the Ohio Incumbent Workforce Training Voucher Program, which comprises $20 million for fiscal year 2012 and $30 million for fiscal year 2013, will be available starting Monday, according to the Ohio Development Services […]
Thanksgiving, a time to pull together
David Kushma, editorial page editor at the Toledo Blade, draws on personal experience at Toledo Hospital that has him counting his blessings and wanting to remind readers of those less fortunate. . . . we also should remember at Thanksgiving, and throughout the year, that many of our neighbors have a lot fewer blessings to […]
Policy Matters Ohio totals Kasich local government cost cutting at $1B
Columbus Business First reporter Jeff Bell writes that our new report on the deepening impact of state funding cuts on Ohio communities “could end up being a go-to guide for cities, counties and townships hoping to protect themselves from further reductions in the next state budget go-around in 2013.” You can click here to view the report […]
Cash savings
Editorial Governments at every level are looking for ways to perform their functions effectively while reducing their costs. In that regard, state Sen. Eric Kearney’s proposal to offer Ohioans the option of receiving their state income tax refunds on prepaid debit cards is promising and deserves careful consideration. Senate Bill 365, which the Cincinnati Democrat […]