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News: Ohio Workers see modest Wage Increase, Dayton Daily News (Premium Content)
 Notes: Some Ohio counties have seen increases in the average wages of workers. However, when inflation is factored in, it wipes away any gains made. The article points out that larger communities have many government employees, and these wages are remaining stagnant or decreasing, and that low wages mean that Ohio communities have less tax revenue coming in to re-invest in great public services that lead to stronger communities. 

News: Shut Down Impact, Youngstown Vindicator
Notes: Public services often receive a mix of local, state, and federal dollars. For many community programs, the federal shut down will not immediately impact the communities, except for federal employees that will be furloughed and the closure of parks, offices, and federal lands. For example, 20 Headstart agencies in the country have grants that expire on September 30th and will not be renewed. Non-discretionary spending such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security will continue. Also essential public safety personnel will remain on the job. Public and non-profit organizations in Ohio will be impacted with a drawn out federal government shut down when we are unable to provide the services that local communities require. 

News: Cuyahoga County pushing to tax hotel rooms given away for free by Cleveland casino
Notes: County is losing $2 million worth of revenue a year as a result of hotel rooms that are given away for free to high priced gamblers. County seeks to collect this revenue, and casino supports the effort because, “the casino’s interests are aligned with county and tourism officials who benefit from the county tax.” Even expensive casino’s recognize the value in public investments.

News: Getting to the root of suicide behind Ohio prison bars
Notes: Ohio’s prisons currently operate at 130% of capacity and we need to increase staff levels and training for our prison guards. NAMI, in a 2011 report, found that Ohio was had ‘extreme cuts to mental health’. It is no surprise that our prison system is the largest provider of mental health services in Ohio as a result of failing to invest in community mental health treatment. Ohio also fails to invest in prison mental health services. Ohio cut $2.2 million from prison mental health services compared to the year before, and in FY 2014, Ohio will experience another 2.5% cut to services. Ohio needs to invest in mental health treatment in our communities and behind prison walls. 

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Bridges need more attention, Columbus Dispatch

Note: Local governments continue to struggle as a result of state budget cuts over the past two budgets. The Ohio budget has been balanced on the back of counties and local communities. 

Here’s How a Federal Government Shutdown will Affect the Akron Area, Akron Beacon Journal

Note: Local, State, and the National government fund and provide great public services that lead to stronger communities. Our communities are strongest when all three levels of government are working together to address social issues. State services will be constrained with a prolonged shut down. Also, it is important to remember that the government does create jobs and many federal government employees in Ohio will be out of work, slowing the economy even further. 

Treasurer Josh Mandel, likely opponent Connie Pillich, differ on municipal income tax reform, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Note:  Many groups have expressed serious concerns about municipal income tax reform (HB 5)  because it will reduce and restrain local governments from collecting revenues and ignores loopholes that already exist. From county bridge maintenance to senior services, recent state policies have already hurt local communities. Municipal income tax reform should focus on simplifying the administration, guarantee that the wealthiest are paying their fair share, and should  not cut revenue.

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Tea Party punts on 2014 primaries, tax policies draw scrutiny and more: Ohio Politics Roundup, Plain Dealer

Note: The article quotes Marcy Block, an analyst at New York’s Fitch Ratings, who thinks that the “tax cuts and revenue losses in Ohio could lead to structural imbalances.” Tax cuts poll well because everyone wants a little bit more money in their pocket. However, most people do not want a small tax cut if it means cuts to schools, public safety and our community parks. Economists are concerned that Ohio and other states will face deep cuts after the 2014 campaigns end. 

Bus Driver, Akron Beacon Journal 

Note: Did you know that the public school districts must provide transportation to charter schools–regardless of their performance? Many public school districts across Ohio have cut back on transportation as a result of the state failing to invest in an equitable and adequate public school system. Charter schools become more convenient to access even if they are poor performing. We need to invest adequately in public education to make sure that all students have access. 

New legislative Education Funding Caucus will study Ohio school-funding issues, Plain Dealer

Note: A new school funding formula is desperately needed in Ohio to guarantee that a students zip code does not determine their educational success.  Let’s hope that this caucus will be successful in moving towards a just funding system in Ohio. 

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Ed FitzGerald backs plan to expand homestead exemption, sidesteps questions about income tax, Cleveland Plain Dealer

FitzGerald: Kasich’s tax priorities stick Ohio’s middle-class with bill, Toledo Blade

Notes: Democratic candidate for governor, Ed FitzGerald, challenges portions of Governor Kasich’s tax cuts.  Ohio needs a tax system where the wealthiest Ohioans pay their fair share, where fairness for all is prioritized, and provides adequate revenues to invest in great public services that lead to stronger communities. 

Romantic accessories company to move to Cincinnati, Dayton Daily News

Cincinnati doubles tax incentive to $700,000 for Pure Romance, Cincinnati Enquirer

Note: Tax incentives have become a common tool to shift public resources to corporations and away from public services. When done appropriately, with clear objectives and agreements, tax incentives can be an additional tool in the bag of economic development plans. The state’s denial of the $100,000 tax credit highlights have speculative and subjective the state’s process is for handing out large checks to corporations. 

Too often, corporations are given tax credits, political leaders claim victory for ‘creating jobs’, and never take a serious look at the impact of the tax incentive. Whether the office workers will be working to sell stocks, bonds, or ‘relationship devices’ it shouldn’t matter. Instead, when civic leaders choose to develop tax incentives, those incentives should be well-targeted at achieving an important governmental and community interest.

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‘Double taxation’ miffs Columbus residents who must also pay township, Columbus Dispatch

Note: Very few communities are impacted by this set-up where unincorporated land is incorporated into the large city (Ie. Columbus). 19 households have expressed frustration with property taxes collected by Perry Township and the City of Columbus. Both the township and the city of Columbus provide services to these areas, but residents are upset because they didn’t know that the law allowed for the township to levy property taxes onto the annexed land.  

Ohio inmate suicides not limited to mentally ill, Columbus Dispatch

Note: 88 inmates have committed suicide since 2000 in Ohio. Overcrowding and understaffing as a result of budget cuts are listed as some of the reasons that allow this to occur.  We need to invest in our criminal justice system to allow the sentences imposed to be properly administered, to rehabilitate offenders, and prevent recidivism once released. 

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Higher Education, Toledo Blade

Note: The Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) was made unavailable to community college students. Ohio needs to develop resources and invest in educational opportunities that range from certification programs, two and four year degrees, and graduate work. We live in a diverse society and all skills are needed to drive our society forward. Ohio’s community colleges are a great public investment that lead to stronger communities!

Property value decreases hurting funding for Montgomery County agencies, Dayton Daily News (Premium Content) 

Note: Across Ohio and the nation, public revenues generated by income taxes have rebounded, but sales and property taxes revenues have not recovered. Montgomery County is bringing in $11.3 million less in 2013 than it brought in 2010 to fund health and human services for children, elderly and others. Revenue sharing between state income tax revenues and local communities through property tax rollbacks, the local government fund, the estate tax, and other efforts helped local communities provide great public services that lead to stronger communities at times when those services are in most need. 

 

 

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Have a Great Weekend, Ohio!

Budget Officials back County Sales Tax Hike, Columbus Dispatch

Note: Franklin County is considering an increase to our county sales tax. The increase would bring in about $100 million in new revenue a year, beginning in 2014.  The Ohio budget in 2012-13 cut over $72 million from Franklin County operations and additional money from other local government services. The current state income tax cut was paid for by not restoring these cuts from the previous budget.

Desperate Poverty, Akron Beacon Journal 

Note: There is no denying that the poverty and extreme poverty have increased in our country. Federal and state programs such the EITC and health programs have proven effective at alleviating extreme poverty and suffering. The morality of this situation requires Ohioans to invest in proven approaches to help end this downward trend. 

 

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We All Succeed when Our Kids do, Cincinnati Enquirer

Note: This editorial lays out a few very tangible steps that Ohio can take to improve our public schools that serve many students who are in poverty. These are just a few steps that Ohio could invest in that will likely create great public schools that lead to stronger communities. 

• Provide Quality pre-school for all
• Make home visits to at-risk new parents
• Prevent Teen Pregnancy
• Track Progress as Closely as Performance
• Create a Pipeline of Future Principals.

What investments do you think will best serve low-income students?

Many Ohio, Michigan Bridges Outdated, Toledo Blade

Note: Ohio has 384 bridges that are “fracture critical” AND “Structurally Deficient.” Michigan only has 28 bridges in both categories. Of those bridges, only 14 are maintained by ODOT, and the rest are maintained by our counties. Counties need an additional $700 million to take care of the backlog in maintenance, but the state of Ohio has continued to cut resources for local government. 

Counties Cut Back on Voting Locations, Columbus Dispatch

Note: Elimination of polling locations and consolidations will cut thousands of dollars from local budgets.  Will cutting resources to county board of elections cut the access to the ballot? 

1.8 million people in Ohio fall below the poverty line, Dayton Daily News

Note: Ohio needs to invest in programs and services that provide opportunities for individuals in poverty to climb out and into the middle class. 

 

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Ohio House Committee wraps up hearing on Tax Policy, Columbus Dispatch

Note: The Ohio House of Representatives traveled to 5 cities (Chillicothe, Batavia, Bowling Green, North Ridgeville, and Columbus) to hear people’s opinions on tax policy. A wide range of opinions were presented, including many local government officials who expressed frustration and confusion at the continued state cuts that have forced local communities to cut services, increase fees, and some have even raised taxes to make up for the cuts. 

Up to 7.3 Million a Day, Akron Beacon Journal

Note: Adopting Medicaid Expansion will be good for Ohio’s economy, because it will pump millions of dollars into it from the federal government. This money will hire nurses, counselors, and construction workers to build new medical centers. Oh yeah, and it will give people better healthcare. 

Poverty Rate Stuck at 15%, Youngstown Vindicator

Note: The gap between rich and poor continues to grow. We need to develop resources and avenues for those in poverty to move into the middle class. Offering great public schools, strong communities, and services are proven ways to help alleviate poverty in our communities. 

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Human services levy campaign faces an uphill battle: analysis, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Note: Are Cleveland voters feeling levy fatigue? In the 1930s and the 1970s Ohio developed new revenues streams to fund local services through a state sales tax and in the 1970s a state income tax. These two methods also included efforts to lessen the local property tax responsibility of communities. With the recent income tax cuts and drastic reductions in support for local communities, the state continues to shift the tax responsibility back onto local property taxes. 

Trouble at TCI, Toledo Blade

Note: Inmate-on-inmate assaults are up 113% and inmate-on-staff assaults are up 73%. As recommendations continued to be made, Ohioans need to invest in our criminal justice system to increase crime prevention and  reduce recidivism, provide adequate and proper staffing levels and training, and reduce overcrowding. The prison in Toledo currently has over 1,200 inmates. It was designed to hold only 900. 

State Education Group links student success, poverty, Akron Beacon Journal

Note: Fixing our schools is not as simple as creating competition or blaming bad teachers, principals, or parents. Instead, Ohio needs to identify the barriers that poverty creates and begin to address those. We know that barriers to transportation, high mobility of families (and schools), access to nutritious food and other poverty-related issues impact educational success. As Ohioans, we should want to have the best public schools for all children. To accomplish this, we need to invest not only in our schools, but in anti-poverty programs as well.