Tax preparation tips trip up consumers
Sheryl Harris Several Northeast Ohioans who turned to tax services for help say they wound up losing money. One consumer said she agreed to take a $100 refund anticipation loan, sometimes known as a RAL, from a tax preparation service because she was unemployed and wanted to get her refund faster. The preparer refused to […]
Jobless decline could set tone for presidential race
Randy Tucker Ohio got a burst of positive unemployment news Friday, just as Ohioans prepare to vote in Tuesday’s presidential primary. Ohio’s unemployment rate of 7.7 percent in January is the lowest monthly rate since November 2008 and well below the national rate of 8.3 percent. “We think it is a sign that Ohio’s job […]
Income tax plays crucial role in Ohio
Policy Matters Ohio today issued a brief on the state income tax as a resource for the public and policymakers alike. Ohio’s income tax is the only major tax that is based on ability to pay. As your taxable income goes up, you pay a higher rate. Yet despite this, lower- and middle-income Ohioans still […]
Lawmakers seek hike in Ohio’s severance tax on drilling
Bob Downing Democratic state reps. Robert Hagan of Youngstown and Mike Foley of Cleveland announced legislation Tuesday that would boost an Ohio tax imposed on drilling for natural gas. Their proposal would raise Ohio’s severance tax on natural gas wells to 7 percent. The state’s effective tax rate is currently less than one-half of 1 […]
100,000 jobless facing unemployment benefit changes
Randy Tucker Thousands of Ohioans could see their extended unemployment benefits cut short as early as this spring as the federal government pares back the duration of benefits from an unprecedented 99 weeks. Congress last week reauthorized extended benefits through the end of the year for millions of unemployed Americans, including about 100,000 in Ohio. […]
Mortgage deal small step in refinancing: Mortgage servicers agree to reimburse after fraudulent foreclosures
Randy Tucker Ohio’s participation in a roughly $25 billion government settlement agreement over alleged mortgage fraud has garnered a mix of skepticism and applause in a state still battling widespread foreclosures. The settlement between state and federal regulators and the nation’s five biggest mortgage servicers would put cash in the pockets of victims of improper […]
Oppose Senate Bill 251, an act that would expand the “inherently problematic” business model of debt adjustment in Ohio
Download presentation Presented by Bill Faith, executive director of COHHIO, to the Ohio CASH CoalitionAs a diverse coalition of Ohio-based leaders and community organizations, we urge you to reject Senate Bill 251. This legislation that would increase the fees debt adjusters can charge in the state of Ohio and unnecessarily expose more Ohioans to industry […]
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau looks at overdraft fees
Jenn Strathman click through for video Have you been hit by a costly overdraft fee? The government’s new consumer watchdog is looking into the fees charged by banks, and proposing a change to your checking account statement. Shoppers are eager to swipe sometimes without knowing how much is in their bank account. The penalty for […]
PoliticsOhio: School Districts Cutting, Not Asking for Levies
Ellen Belcher Click through for audio of interview Ellen Belcher, who’s filling in for Emily McCord, interviews Wendy Patton of Policy Matters Ohio about a recent survey that the liberal-leaning think tank did of Ohio’s schools. The state’s 600-plus school districts have been hit with a two-year $1.8 billion cut in funding. That means their […]
Private Prison Corporation Offers Cash In Exchange For State Prisons
By Chris Kirkham As state governments wrestle with massive budget shortfalls, a Wall Street giant is offering a solution: cash in exchange for state property. Prisons, to be exact. Corrections Corporation of America, the nation’s largest operator of for-profit prisons, has sent letters recently to 48 states offering to buy up their prisons as a […]
Overhaul Ohio’s oil and gas laws
Editorial board Gov. John Kasich is right to call for an increase in Ohio’s severance tax on oil and gas and a new impact fee to help localities deal with the consequences — in road wear, as just one example — of expanded drilling and “fracking.” But it’s not enough. If shale oils and gases […]
Education strong determinant with work success: Most jobless Ohioans have no more than a high school diploma
By Randy Tucker, Staff Writer Most labor experts agree that education is the strongest determinant for success in the modern-day workplace, and new government job forecasts indicate more education is better for job seekers. Regardless of industry, the fastest growth is projected for occupations that require at least a master’s degree. Those professions will grow […]