Voters want data center regulation; lame duck bills should not make it harder
Yesterday’s election included local ballot measures related to data centers in 18 Ohio communities. In all 18 of them, a majority of voters opted to restrict, regulate, or oppose data centers. Policy Matters Ohio Executive Director Hannah Halbert issued the following statement: “Ohioans used yesterday’s local ballot measures to weigh in on the growing impact […]
“Business friendly” policy hasn’t moved the needle for Ohioans
Census data indicate federal cuts will jeopardize critical services for Ohio families Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released data from the 2025 American Community Survey (ACS). The data allow state- and local-level analysis of federal policies’ impacts on everyday Ohioans. Data became available only after a six-week delay to accommodate federal rule changes. Policy Matters […]
A Fair Share Tax could generate $4B by raising taxes on less than 4% of Ohioans
Policy would restore some balance after 20+ years of tax cuts primarily for the wealthiest A Fair Share Tax could generate roughly $4 billion a year for Ohio while leaving more than 96% of tax filers unaffected, according to a new Policy Matters Ohio report. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy analyzed three separate […]
Fewer than 1 in 5 Ohioans would benefit from cap gains tax cut
Benefits would flow primarily to affluent investors, with consequences for working people, kids, and families House Bill 617 would eliminate Ohio taxes on capital gains, but fewer than 1 in 5 Ohio tax filers would benefit. Policy Matters analysis of data from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy finds: The benefits of repeal would […]
Census data tell (some of) Ohio’s story
Federal changes mean state-level data are unavailable Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released 2025 data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), which provides estimates on income, poverty, housing, health insurance coverage, and the well-being of people nationwide. The CPS is the little sister to the American Community Survey (ACS), considered a more robust dataset because […]
WIN Act would expand access to childcare
Providers can’t recruit enough workers; thousands operate at less than full capacity Many Ohio childcare providers already have room for more children but lack the staff to serve them. Ohio’s General Assembly is considering a bill that would open more seats in childcare centers, a critical step in addressing the state’s childcare crisis. Policy Matters […]
Ohio working families pay the cost of legislative inaction
Consequences include low wages, a childcare crisis, and lack of paid leave Ohio workers produce the wealth that powers the state’s economy, but legislators make policy primarily to benefit corporations and the well-connected wealthy. As a result, too many Ohioans cannot afford the basics, recover from economic shocks, secure childcare, or take time away from […]
Ohio college aid program shortchanges students who need it most
Policy choices hamstring Ohio’s only need-based financial aid program Ohio’s only need-based financial aid program falls short of its potential because state policymakers created rules that reduce aid for many low-income students and fail to account for the true cost of attending college. A new Policy Matters Ohio brief finds that the Ohio College Opportunity […]
Ohio take note: Voters in Missouri soundly reject state income tax phase-out
Voters in Missouri yesterday decisively defeated a proposal that would have phased out the state income tax and allowed for legislators to expand the sales tax to make up for it. Missourians turned the proposal down by an astonishing 83%-17%, with it losing in every county in the state. “This should send a message to […]
Federal provider tax restrictions: Without state action, billions in Medicaid funding are on the line
New Medicaid finance restrictions from last summer’s federal budget bill (H.R. 1) could result in as much as a $7.33 billion Ohio Medicaid funding shortfall during the state’s next budget cycle. However, if the Ohio legislature acts quickly, the state can avoid this loss, according to Policy Matters Ohio’s new report on H.R. 1’s costly […]
School District Income Taxes: A limited funding tool
Ohio school districts are making decisions about whether to place school district income taxes (SDITs) on the November ballot. New analysis from Policy Matters Ohio finds that while SDITs can help some districts fill in gaps, they are not a general-purpose solution to local funding short-falls. “SDITs have some appealing features, but also some key […]
Data centers drive even more price increases for Ohio ratepayers
PJM announcement underscores need for clean energy solutions to power data centers The energy grid operator PJM has announced auction results projected to add $6.3 billion in costs to ratepayers in its service area, which includes Ohio. The company’s announcement cites rapidly growing demand from data centers as the driving force behind the rate increases. […]