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News: Got $400 million? Akron Beacon Journal
Notes: “Budgets are About Priorities…” The Akron Beacon Journal correctly points out that tax cuts have not lived up to the theories around new jobs. The proposed 4% tax cut will not trickle down from the wealthy to the rest of us. Ohio needs to restore 1,000 police positions, 675 fire fighters, and 1,570 teachers. These investments will create strong middle class jobs while improve services in our communities. 

News: Community Colleges: Expand Need Based Aid, Cincinnati Enquirer
Notes: $20 million is needed to be invested in students who want to attend community college. Currently, students at Ohio’s community colleges are not eligible for the Ohio College Opportunity Grant, that is need-based aid for low and moderate income students. They were eliminated from eligibility in 2009, when the program funding was cut in half during the recession. A state investment of $20 million will help prepare thousands of students for jobs that are currently in high demand. We have the resources, let’s invest in Ohio’s Future!

News: Ohio gets 570 applications for Straight A fund, Akron Beacon Journal
Notes: In the most recently passed budget, the Ohio legislature established a ‘Straight A Fund’ that was designed to offer additional revenue for districts to implement new ideas. Over 570 grants were submitted. This large number indicates that local districts have innovative ideas and know what is needed to best meet the needs of students and the community, but continue to lack resources to meet those needs. Ohio still has not recovered in state funding of our schools. Ohio needs to invest in great public schools that will lead to stronger communities. 

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News: Ohio Senate GOP leaders seek income tax cut using savings from Medicaid expansion, Plain Dealer
Notes: Through medicaid expansion, Ohio will see about $404 million. This revenue could be handed out in a tax cut that will benefit the wealthiest Ohioans the most or could be invested in expanding preschool to 14,000 kids without access ($67 million) hire back 1,000 police officers and 675 fire fighters ($100 million), create adequate funding for senior protective services ($11.5million), rehire 1,570 eliminated teaching positions ($121 million) and invest in college students ($85.7 million), and so much more… 

News: Ohio Incomes Drop, 1 in 6 live in Poverty, Dayton Daily News (Premium Content)

Notes: Ohio ranks 41th for median family income with a drop of 9.2% since 2007. Florida (50th) and Nevada (51st) round out the bottom of the list with median income falling by 14.9% & 18.4%.  Nevada and Florida also saw their poverty rates increase by more than 5%. It is important to note that neither Nevada nor Florida have a state income tax, further illustrating that a state income tax is not determinative of economic success. States with the smallest increases in poverty during the recession were all states that produce substantial amounts of energy. 

News: Prison population, costs rise despite reforms, Dayton Daily News (Premium Content)
Notes: Ohio passed legislation to reform prison sentencing 2 years ago. However, those reforms have not delivered the promised reduction in prison population and our $1.5 billion investment will be inadequate in 2015 to keep up with the costs of a growing prison population. Ohio will need to invest resources either into more prison cells or into probation, diversion, and other community sentencing and drug treatment programs. Either way, we need to Invest in Ohio’s Future. 

News: New state loans for brownfield cleanups tied to job creation, Columbus Dispatch
Notes: Ohio currently has a program that provides grants to companies to clean up land that has chemicals or rusting industry. As that program draws to a close, Ohio may replace it with a low-interest loan program connected to permanent jobs. Some have raised concerns that building housing on those sites will not create permanent jobs, but should still be eligible under the new program. Ohio and businesses are better served through loan and grant programs over tax credits, incentives, and loopholes that are poorly targeted and unaccountable for their results. 

News: The State of Arts in Our Schools, Cincinnati Enquirer
Notes: We need the arts for our students. The arts inspire kids to be creative in all aspects of their live, help youth to express themselves in emotionally responsible ways, and inspire kids to dream of a better community and world. Budget cuts have decimated art programs in many school districts. It is time to invest in our Children, it is time to invest in Ohio’s future. 

 

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News: Left out in Ohio, Inside Higher Ed
Notes: The 2005 tax cuts have reduced revenue in Ohio, and have eroded our long-term investments into student aid for Ohio students. By modifying eligibility language, Ohio has excluded community college students from access. Ohio needs to restore funding to previous levels and help Ohio students have access to great community colleges and other higher education options. 

News: Inequality is only going to get worse, Columbus Dispatch
Notes: An economist predicts that we will have more very wealthy people and more extremely poor people in society. The article ends with a question, ‘what are you going to do about it?’ A part of the solution, to re-build a strong middle class in America, is public investments in great schools, social service programs, and community services. 

News: The latest on the Amazon Tax in States, the Courts and Congress, Governing Daily
Notes: When you walk into an Ohio Sears, you will pay sales tax on that drill. When you order from Sears online, they are supposed to charge you an Ohio sales tax, because (as lawyers say) they have a physical presence in the state. But when you order that same drill from Amazon, without a physical presence in Ohio, they do not collect sales tax. All Ohio residents are supposed to ‘self-report’ this on their income tax returns–only about 1% actually do. Because of constitutional issues, Congress needs to create a system where Ohio can collect sales tax from Amazon. 50 states wait and sit for Congress to create equity and fairness for all states in sales and use taxation. 

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News: Ohio house mulls simplifying municipal income tax, Youngstown Vindicator
Notes: Tax systems should always strive to be easy to administer, but we cannot sacrifice sufficiency for simplicity. This bill has a carve out for businesses that will allow a profitable business to claim a previous financial loss. We need municipal income tax reform that will simplify the process without costing local communities revenues that they invest into great public services that lead to stronger communities. 

News: Lawmakers may have both OK’d language allowing Medicaid expansion in budget bill, and the ban Kasich vetoed, Plain Dealer
Notes: Medicaid expansion was passed through the Controlling Board, which is a body that authorizes the executive to spend money allocated from state and federal sources. In a massive bill, such as the budget, there are many appropriations and many policy statements. The Ohio budget (HB 59) actually included language that gave the power to expand medicaid to the new office of Medicaid, and language (that was vetoed) to stop expansion.  

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News: Suit filed over Medicaid expansion; bill to cut taxes introduced, Columbus Dispatch
Notes: Medicaid Expansion will increase revenue in Ohio by about $400million as a result of the federal government paying 100% of expansion. Sen. Widener supported Medicaid expansion on Monday and immediately sought to use the additional revenue for income tax cuts. Ohio should invest this revenue into job development, education, and infrastructure that will serve the community, attract business and improve Ohio. 

News: Reducing Economic Inequality, Governing today
Notes: Through state and local investments into public services, we can reduce the costs associated with daily life for low and middle income families. These savings will allow the family to invest in their own futures. In Ohio, we have seen multiple schools increase fees for students to participate in classes and activities, cuts to public transportation, and infrastructure. Restoring these cuts will reduce the family expenses and allow them to invest in their own futures.

News: College Prices Appear to be Moderating, Dayton Daily News
Notes: This is a good sign for college students across the country as student loan debt is the highest of all debt categories. Now is a time for state legislatures to consider how they can re-invest in higher education to reduce tuition rates for students and reduce the debt that burdens students from investing in an economy. Instead a small tax cut, Ohio could invest $400 million into reducing tuition for all Ohio students. 

 

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News: No New Taxes, Akron Beacon Journal 1
News: No New Taxes, Akron Beacon Journal 2
News: No New Taxes, Akron Beacon Journal 3
Notes: The Akron Beacon Journal endorses a YES vote on three property tax levies in Summit County. Many Ohio residents wonder why property taxes are always on the local ballot. Like these three levies, most property taxes are passed for a limited time and voters need to ‘renew’ the levy to maintain current funding levels. These three levies will support Summit County Metroparks, the Akron Zoo, and mental health and addiction services. The ABJ identifies how these services have a positive impact on the quality of life in the community and a positive economic impact for everyone. 

News: Senator renews controversial attempt to reduce burden on twice-taxed commuters, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Notes: Local municipal income taxes are vital for great public services that lead to stronger communities. People that live or work in a community benefit from investments in roads, public safety, and public park space. People that live or work in our urban centers should pay their fair share for these great public investments. The suburbs prosper when the central cities prosper, and removing the revenue from the central cities will hurt the regional communities. 

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News: Mayor Hopefuls Talk Scenery, Toledo Blade
Notes: City beauty and investment in the quality of life of a community are very important. Mayoral candidates in Toledo discuss their plans to invest in community beautification. 

News: Study: Poor Kids Now Majority in U.S. Public Schools in South, West, Governing Daily
Notes: Tax rankings attempt to pit one state against another, and regressive tax advocates point to measures of success in Southern states.  However, with our taxes, we pay for public services that help lift people onto stable economic footing so that they can succeed. Ohio should not seek to be like Mississippi. Instead, Ohio should invest in Ohio’s Future. 

News: FitzGerald blasts Kasich over Medicaid, Talks Taxes, Record Courier
Notes: Governor Kasich has presented different ideas that he was unable to move his own party, including an increase in the severance tax imposed on oil and gas drillers and a broadening of the Ohio sales tax to currently untaxed services with a lower rate. 

 

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News: Will tax issue ‘merry-go-round’ wear out voters, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Notes: Schools, parks, social services, and libraries are just a few of the many local services that receive substantial revenue from local property taxes.  As a result of the past two state budgets, local communities receive much less revenue from the state.  In Ohio we need to guarantee diverse sources of revenue from sales, property and income taxes to make sure we can invest in Ohio’s future. 

News: Council Majority sends letter criticizing prisons to governor, Toledo Blade
Notes: State government is responsible for our state correctional institutions. While we need to invest in crime prevention, we also need to make sure that our facilities are safe for guards and prisoners alike. As a result of overcrowded facilities, Ohio is falling short on our obligation. 

News: Senate Leader Expects Medicaid to Clear Ohio Board, Dayton Daily News
Notes: The 7 person controlling board is the body that actually authorizes the spending of money.  Governor Kasich was unable to receive legislative approval for Medicaid Expansion during the budget debate last spring, but will ask the Controlling Board to authorize the spending federal money to expand medicaid to 275,000 people. The federal government funds the expansion at 100% for the first three years, and will scale back to be a 90%-10% cost sharing between the federal government and the state. 

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News: Why does College Cost so much, Canton Repository
Notes: This article highlights many great points that explain why college education is expensive. However, it fails to mention why tuition has increased. Over the past 20 years, Ohio has cut its per-pupil allocation in about half for Ohio’s public colleges and universities.

News: Grants open preschool to more students, Youngstown Vindicator
Notes: Through new resources in the Ohio budget, many local communities are able to expand preschool offerings to low income students. Attending preschool allows children to be ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. We need to continue to expand these efforts so that every kid will have access to great preschool opportunities. 

News: Alliance Asks for Income Tax Hike, Canton Repository
News: local communities have been forced to reduce staff, cut services, and seek new revenue as a result of state budget cuts and the elimination of the estate tax. Ohio needs to reverse the trend of shifting the financial responsibility onto local communities and away from the state. 

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News: Analysis: Do Business-Friendly Tax Climates Yield The Most Jobs? Governing the States and Localities?
Notes: The Tax Foundation’s 2014 Business Tax Competitiveness Index were released on Wednesday, but what do the numbers actually mean? As Governing points out, the rankings are not correlated with economic performance, employment numbers, or other positive outcomes that we desire. Tax rankings are highly subjective and rarely consider all the factors. Also, most businesses end up paying about the same between most states…

News: Additional Preschool Seats are Coming, Cincinnati Enquirer
Notes: Government can help those most in need. Ohio will have 2,450 more slots for kids to attend preschool thanks to a small investment by the state of Ohio. While Ohio still has a long way to go in guaranteeing preschool options for all kids, we have taken a step in the right direction. Ohio needs to build on this and Invest in Ohio’s Future.

News: Hamilton County has Shrunk by a third, has anyone noticed? Cincinnati Enquirer
Notes: Yes, many people have noticed with delays in processing home purchases, less public safety, and other shortcomings.  Franklin County engaged in a balanced approach to budgeting by raising revenue and becoming more efficient to survive the 2008-09 recession. Hamilton county has cut services frustrating individuals, businesses, and closing prisons. As the article points out, YES people have noticed that we are not investing in great public services that lead to stronger communities.