Minimum pay fuels intense debate among opponents and proponents
Marcia Pledger’s article in the Plain Dealer presents arguments for and against raising the minimum wage, keyed on the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. While analysts, economists, politicians and business owners debate whether the federal minimum wage should be raised from $7.25 to $10.10 an […]
Foreclosures continue to plague Ohio: More than 70,000 new filings reported in 2012
Download press release (1 pg) Read the full report Ohio foreclosures remain at crisis levels, with 70,469 new filings in 2012, according to the annual foreclosure report released today by Policy Matters Ohio. The study, based on Ohio Supreme Court data, found that the number of new foreclosure filings dropped only slightly from 2011, by […]
Electric vehicle development and infrastructure would save money, strengthen Ohio economy, report finds
For immediate release Contact Amanda Woodrum, Policy Matters Ohio at 216.361.9801 Cynthia Maves, Clean Fuels Ohio at 614.884.7336 Download release (2 pp) Read the full report Ohio is well positioned to be a key player in the supply chain for electric vehicles, according to a new report released today by Policy Matters Ohio. Other […]
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 […]
Sequestration cuts benefits to Ohio unemployed, even as more long-term jobless will qualify for U.S. aid
Thousands of unemployed Ohioans will feel the effects of federal sequestration budget cuts through a reduction in their weekly unemployment compensation checks. Unemployed Ohioans are expected to see $25 million less in benefits between now and the end of the federal fiscal year Sept. 30.
State funding cuts are shrinking Ohio schools
Download release Back to full report Seven of 10 responding districts cut budgets for this school year, survey finds Ohio school districts report that they have reduced salaries and benefits, laid off staff, and cut back on classroom materials to deal with the loss of state funding since 2011, according to the results of […]
Income-tax cut would favor affluent Ohioans
Download release Full analysis Middle-income residents on average would get $51 a year, analysis finds A permanent 7-percent income-tax cut approved by the Ohio House of Representatives would siphon more than $1.4 billion from public services over the next two years. A new analysis done for Policy Matters Ohio by the Institute on Taxation and […]
Zach Schiller on Sound of Ideas: Tax Day
Research Director Zach Schiller talks about tax policy on Ideastream’s Sound of Ideas with host Mike McIntyre and guests Richard Vedder (economics professor at Ohio University), Bill Cohen (Statehouse News Bureau reporter), and Ohio Rep. Ron Amstutz (chairman of the House Finance Committee).
New interactive map shows how a state EITC would help working families in all 88 Ohio counties
For immediate release Contact David Rothstein, 216.361.9801 Download release Interactive Ohio EITC map EITC testimony Credit should be part of budget proposal, research group says in testimony The state legislature should include a state Earned Income Tax Credit in the budget proposal being considered by the House of Representatives, according to testimony prepared today […]
Demand-driven job training and placement model dramatically increases employment
For immediate release Contact Hannah Halbert, 614.221.4505 Full report Download release By implementing a demand-driven model in mid-2010, Employment Connection, the workforce-training agency for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, has greatly improved the services it provides to local firms and workers, according to a new study by Policy Matters Ohio. “Our findings suggest that Employment […]
Business-owner tax break won’t help economy, new analysis shows
Full report Download press release A proposed income-tax break for owners of Ohio businesses won’t help small businesses create jobs, according to a report released today by Policy Matters Ohio. “The proposed business-profit exclusion will do little for Ohio’s economy, while draining more than $600 million a year from public services,” said Zach Schiller, report […]
Tax cuts, pressure on local government undermine positive aspects of Kasich plan
Back to full report Download press release New analysis highlights modest restoration, Medicaid expansion The Kasich administration’s budget proposal continues damaging trends started with the current budget, including tax cuts and a failure to restore local government revenues, according to a new overview by Policy Matters Ohio. But it also contains positive elements, most notably […]