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FY 16-17 Governor’s Budget Overview
FY 16-17 House Budget Overview
FY16-17 Senate Finance Committee Budget Overview
FY16-17 Enacted Budget

Policy Brief: HB483 The Mid-Biennium Review (MBR) Passed.
The MBR passed in June and extended the trend of tax cuts that primarily benefit the wealthy. Approximately $400 million in tax cuts were included in this bill, primarily toward businesses and the wealthy.

Policy Brief HB472: Introduced – March 2014, did not pass
The Mid-Biennium Review (MBR) was divided into 14 bills. HB 472 contains the major tax components (excluding the severance tax). This proposal will do little to create jobs and will primarily benefit the wealthiest Ohioans.

Policy Brief: SB210: Introduced- Oct. 2013, did not pass
This bill will use the $404 million savings from Ohio’s expansion of Medicaid to fund a cut to Ohio’s income tax rates – bringing the top rate in 2015 from 5.333% to 5.120% instead of investing the revenue savings back into our communities.

Policy Brief: HB375 Introduced-Dec. 2013, did not pass
This bill will raise the Ohio severance tax on oil and natural gas drilling operations. While this bill will update Ohio’s severance tax, it is a very low rate and allocates the money towards another income tax cut that will primarily benefit the wealthiest Ohioans.

Policy Brief: Capital Budget, passed.
The Capital Budget establishes spending on capital improvements (purchasing, maintenance) of buildings and lands owned by the state. The majority of the resources for these improvements comes from the sale of bonds

– Tax Plan awards Affluent – Tax changes in legislation benefit the wealthy.

– Three Blows to Local Government – State support for local communities is eroding. 

– Academic Research Lacks Consensus on the Impact of State tax cuts and Economic Growth – Despite claims to the contrary, research doesn’t support the belief that low taxes lead to economic growth.

– Cutting State Personal Income Taxes Won’t Help Small Businesses Create Jobs and May Harm State Economies – Businesses need good roads, safe communities, and an educated workforce to succeed. 

– State Personal Income Tax Cuts: a Poor Strategy for Growth – Smart public investments are the foundation for a strong economy. 

– Corporate taxes and economic growth – Corporate profits tax do not harm successful businesses, just help everyone to pay their fair share. 

– Rethinking Growth Strategies- How State and Local Taxes and Services effect Economic Development – Tax credits and loopholes might harm economic growth and efficiency. “

– Selling Snake Oil to the States
Some national organizations continue to push economic policy that does not drive economic growth nor does it help Ohio invest in great public services.  This research highlights the flaws in their arguments.

– Grading Places: What do Business Climate Rankings Really Tell Us
The Tax Foundation, ALEC and others publish tax rankings. However these numbers have proven to be poor indicators for future economic performance,  employment, or quality of life measures. The data is also easily manipulated, skewed and used to push an organizations ideological priorities.

– Tax Flight is a Myth: Higher State Taxes Bring More Revenue, Not More Migration
People and businesses are not likely to move between states on a regular basis. When they do, it is normally because of a new job, family and considerations besides tax policy.

– Ohio Tax Flight is a Myth
The research shows that corporations do not make long-term decisions based on tax policy but factor in the available workforce, quality of life in a community, access to customers and much more when making business decisions.

Multiplying Ohio Tax Breaks
A Tax Expenditure, or loophole, is money that the state chooses not to collect when a person or company engages in a specific activity. Some tax expenditures may be helpful, but these go largely unreviewed by the state legislature and Ohioans never know if the investment of money is worthwhile.

Tax breaks grow in Ohio Budget
Tax loopholes grew in HB 59, Ohio’s most recent budget, despite an ongoing desire by many to limit these expenses.

Ohio’s Tax Expenditure Report
The state of Ohio publishes a list every two years of all tax expenditures (loopholes) in the Ohio budget.

Gallup-Healthways_State_of_American_Well-Being_2014_State_Rankings
Ohio continues to underperform the nation on Gallup’s Well-Being index. We are 47th

State Higher Education Officer’s Association: State Funding
States continue to cut funding for higher education, leading to higher tuition on students. Since the  2005 tax cuts, Ohio has cut over $550 million from higher education. 

Annie E Casey Foundation Birth-age 8
Ohio has many areas where we need to invest. Creating a strong community in which to raise our children is one of the top areas. With 50% of Ohio’s children in low income households, we know that we need to do more to invest in Ohio’s Future.

Governor’s FY2016-17 Budget Proposal
Legislative Services Commission: Budget Bills and Related Documents
FY2014-15 Budget Line Items: