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Honoring Dr. King’s Call for a Job’s Guarantee Program, New Economic’s Perspective

Note: Dr. King advocated for more than voting rights, he also advocated for helping those who are suffering in poverty to have a chance at middle class security. He wanted labor unions and community investments to help the middle class. 

Ohio sales tax goes up, income taxes go down Sunday, Canton Repository

Note: Yes, your paycheck will have a few extra pennies in the near future. However, with the sales tax increase most Ohioans will not see an actual tax cut.  Instead the tax responsibility has been shifted from income to sales tax. This means that the responsibility for paying of public services shifts from the wealthy to the middle class and those in poverty. According to a study of the overall impact of the tax reform, The bottom 20% of income earners in Ohio will have to pay $12 more a year in taxes, the next 20% will net $5 gain, and the middle 20% of Ohioans will receive only $9 in tax cuts.  However, the top 1% of Ohioans will receive over $6,083 a year in a tax cut. All at the same time, Ohio is underfunding education, local community services and not investing in a variety of ways to make our communities stronger. 

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Today’s Top Budget Headline…

Is ‘right-sizing’ government hurting Ohio’s Economy, Columbus Dispatch

Note: Ohio has lost 6% of its public sector employees over the past 4 1/2 years. The loss has been steeper in Ohio than many other states and the loss of these public sector jobs impact our communities in two ways.

First, we have less services available. Police and fire protection are less than what they were before. Class sizes have increased. We have fewer social workers to help kids in bad situations. We have fewer community services available. 

The second impact, that is the focus of this piece, is that there are fewer jobs available and causing the economic recovery to be much slower. “A job is a job — whether you’re working at Ford, Nationwide, the state of Ohio or a municipality, it’s still income that spends in the local economy,” said Hannah Halbert, policy liaison for Policy Matters Ohio.”  By investing in great public services that lead to stronger communities, Ohio can help get our economy back on track.

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Today’s Top Budget Related News…

Company with JobsOhio Tax Credits moves execs to Illinois, Columbus Dispatch

Note: The corporation states, “Lawrence said Rittal chose the Chicago area for its headquarters because of better access to international flights, access to worker-training programs, and sister companies’ locations there.” Illinois investments in infrastructure, well trained workforce, and other corporations have a large impact on economic development. Ohio needs to make sure that we invest our money wisely to build stronger communities. 

6 Components of the New Ohio Report Cards, Dayton Daily News

Note: Investments into education are needed in Ohio and we need to always be striving to identify ways to improve our districts. We can improve our schools by shrinking class sizes, providing students additional resources when needed, and have lots of cultural and academic enrichment experiences. Will this new report card help us to make more investments into these areas? 

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Indicted State Rep Talks Taxes, Not Resignation, Cincinnati Enquirer

Notes: The University of Cincinnati Eastern Campus hosted the Tax Reform Study Committee hearing on August 21st in Batavia (Clermont County) Ohio. The committee heard testimony from many people who have concerns about Ohio tax policy. Many Local officials continue to express concerns about continued cuts to essential resources for local communities. Joe Honerlaw, Springfield Township Trustee, stated in his testimony, “As a local Republican elected official, I am uncertain as to the logic and intent of the current Administration and legislature to the approach taken with local governments.”  He continued to highlight why shared services and the ‘innovation fund’ are not solutions to many local community problems.  

One Ohio Now’s State Director Gavin DeVore Leonard testified and asked for a tax conversation that cuts down on the hyperbole and  focuses on sound research that can be evaluated, tested, and adjusted in a manner that will allow Ohio and our communities enough revenue to invest in great public services that lead to stronger communities. 

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Todays Top Budget Related headlines…

U.S. Must Spend to Build Kids a Ladder, Columbus Dispatch

Note: This article provides prudent advice for Ohio and our state budget policy. They identify strong families, civic institutions, and community service as primary in helping people climb out of poverty. By investing in good schools, parks, strong neighborhoods  and other resources Ohioans who are in poverty will have a better opportunity to climb the ladder to the middle middle class. 

Property Tax Subsidy Cut to affect Levies on Ballot, Canton Repository

Note: The State has shifted the responsibility of paying for services onto the local government from the state. The past two budgets have cut property tax reimbursements, revenue sharing agreements, and the local government fund. This shift is not just one from state to local communities, but the state has the income tax. Ohio already has a regressive tax system, with low income people paying over 11% of their income each year towards state and local taxes, while the wealthiest Ohioans pay around 8%. The property tax rollback will be used to cover an income tax cut that will reduce the wealthiest Ohioans tax liability while increasing it on the poorest Ohioans. We need everyone to pay their fair share in Ohio for great public services that lead to stronger communities. 

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Todays top budget related headlines…

Local Officials Want Funding Returned, Chillicothe Gazette

Notes: On August 14, the Ohio House of Representatives held a hearing on possible tax reform options moving forward. Many local leaders from the Chillicothe area stood up and expressed great concern about tax cuts that benefit the wealthiest Ohioans.  PAINT Valley ADAMH board testified about their budget and how state actions impact the services that they are able to provide.  We have growing needs in local communities that need state support.  As property tax revenues continue to lag for local services, the state has the capacity to invest in our future. 

Groveport Madison sets student drop-off plan after busing cut, Columbus Dispatch

Note: Groveport-Madison needs to figure out how to move additional cars in and out of their schools in the morning in a manner that will be efficient and effective as a result of cuts to bussing. Transportation funding is a major difficulty for local districts in the face of state formula changes and state budget cuts over the years. 

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Today’s Top Budget Related Headlines…

Budget changes mean taxpayers will pay more, This Weeks Community News

Note: The state budget continues to shift the responsibility for paying for public services onto local government and away from the state. A person’s zip code shouldn’t determine the quality of education or services they receive in Ohio. 

Library seeks levy to support programs, restore hours, This Weeks Community News

Notes: Libraries are  a great public service that lead to stronger communities. Libraries need to restore hours and services, and they will need state and local revenue sources to do. 

County hiring continues to lag in sheriff’s office, Canton Repository 

Note: Many local communities are still struggling to restore cuts to staff and programs that happened during the recession. Cuts to the local government fund since the recession have further tied the hands of local officials. 

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Today’s Top Budget Headlines

Not Under Review, Akron Beacon Journal

Note: Tax Expenditures are loopholes and credits that cost Ohio taxpayers about $7.7 Billion. Many tax breaks go unreviewed & stay on the books regardless of their merit. Conservative, moderate and liberal groups urge the Ohio legislature and governor to establish a review process.The State of Washington requires each tax break to include a statement of purpose and establish goals and objectives for measuring its effectiveness. The tax break must also be renewed every 10 years. 

Fighting a Plague, Toledo Blade

Note: Toledo receives a mixture of federal, state and local non-profit support to address the epidemic of human trafficking in the city. Public investments are needed to help stop this epidemic. 

Too many inmates + too little space = toxic mix: editorial, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Note: Prisons are extremely expensive and often violence results from overcrowding. Smart public investments in treatment, diversion, and community based rehabilitation will produce better results, prevent over-crowding, and save taxpayer money in the long run. 

Schools in Ohio face challenges in 2013-14, Youngstown Vindicator

Note: New school funding formula leaves many districts guessing on how much the state will provide to educate Ohio’s Children. Educators and others continue to express concerns over the new formula and they ask whether or not Ohio will ever meet the constitutional requirement of an equitable and adequate education funding plan for all students.