Minimum wage resets to $10.45 January 1
Index holds wages steady for low-paid Ohioans despite historic inflation Next month, Ohio’s minimum wage gets a 35-cent adjustment to $10.45 per hour to keep up with rising prices. The adjustment will benefit some 388,800 Ohioans. The Economic Policy Institute estimated that 150,700 Ohioans now paid less than $10.45 will see a direct wage increase […]
Ohio’s HB 201 faces scrutiny as last-minute, pro-utility amendment raises concerns
DeWine still has time to veto this unvetted giveaway Governor DeWine has until December 29 to veto House Bill 201, which was introduced to prevent Ohio from adopting California’s emissions standards and prohibit local jurisdictions from restricting the use or sale of a vehicle based on its fuel source. The version of the bill awaiting […]
CEOs at wealthy Ohio corporations paid 273 times as much as their typical employee
Fifty-three of Ohio’s largest employers paid their CEOs a median of 273 times what they paid the typical employee in 2022. That’s according to a new report by Policy Matters Ohio that compiles the ratio of CEO pay to the median employee — the person whose pay falls in the middle – for all Ohio’s […]
Ohio needs a property-tax circuit breaker
*Update — January 2024: This release provides an overview of circuit breaker proposals that are described in greater detail and with more precise data in this report. Sharp rises in home assessment values are bringing property-tax relief to the forefront at the Statehouse in Columbus. While various bills may provide a partial answer to the […]
Tax credits for workers & families
New data show how tax credits can help Ohioans who need it Legislation now in Ohio’s House of Representatives would reduce eligible families’ income taxes by over $1,000 per year on average, according to Policy Matters Ohio analysis of new data from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. House Bill 290 would benefit over […]
UAW wins put workers in the driver’s seat
Policy Matters researchers dig into details The United Auto Workers have announced tentative agreements with each of the Big Three automakers that will set the terms of their work over the next four years and influence conditions throughout the economy. UAW members are now in the process of ratifying those deals. The terms include sweeping […]
Ohio schools need better funding, more staff
Policy Matters releases State of Ohio Schools report Unconstitutional funding disparities have slowed the recovery of Ohio’s public K-12 schools from COVID-induced losses, according to a new report from Policy Matters Ohio. The report examines school funding and staffing issues, summarizes critical performance metrics, identifies new legislation that will affect public education, and recommends policy […]
New census data show economic security in Ohio depends on better public policy
Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released data from the American Community Survey (ACS), which provides state and local estimates on income, poverty, housing, health insurance coverage, and the well-being of people nationwide. The ACS is the big sister to the CPS released earlier this week. The ACS provides more robust data because of its larger […]
New rule for child care could lower costs for families and stabilize providers
Federal comment period closing A federal policy change would lower costs for families who participate in Publicly Funded Child Care, stabilizing budgets for child care providers, expanding child care options throughout the state and simplifying enrollment. The Department of Health and Human Services is accepting public comments on the proposal until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, […]
A victory for democracy in Ohio
Policy Matters joins thousands of Ohioans celebrating the defeat of Issue 1 Ohio voters have soundly rejected Issue 1, which would have effectively eliminated the citizen-initiated ballot measure in the state. Hannah Halbert, executive director of Policy Matters Ohio, issued the following statement in celebration of the measure’s defeat: “Ohio voters showed up to defeat […]
Policy Matters Ohio announces promotions, welcomes Communications Associate, and notes title changes
Policy Matters Ohio is proud to announce the promotions of three fellows to permanent staff positions. We are also delighted to welcome Sarah Rodenberg as our new Communications Associate and to recognize the educational achievement of Senior Researcher Michael Shields. Two fellows — Guillermo Bervejillo, PhD., and Tanisha Pruitt, PhD. — join the permanent staff […]
New data show wage and employment improvements are not widely shared
Three of Ohio’s 10 most common occupations pay so little that the median worker would qualify for food aid for a family of three. In some areas, up to half of the 10 most common occupations paid so little. New analysis by Policy Matters Ohio of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data also reveals that […]