by Byron Solomon

(Plain Press, September 2015) This year’s Ohio state budget, once again, shows how little the state legislature cares about low and middle income Ohioans. In November, members of Northern Ohioans for Budget Legislation Equality came together to develop a community platform of needs. These needs ranged from more money for K-12 education, health and human services, more money to our local governments so that they can fix the number of potholes and provide the services that we need for our community, and greater tax equity among all Ohioans.

COMMENTARY

We have developed a Report Card that evaluates the Governor’s and Legislature’s effectiveness in addressing these and other issues. Sadly to say, both received an F in their ability to help low and middle income Ohioans. Those that make less than $38,000 a year will see a tax increase due to the Governor’s income tax cut. Local governments will not receive any additional support while education funding overall will decline. Funding to help subsidize the high cost of childcare increased marginally, but not enough to really help lower income families.

We need to make sure that when our legislators write the budget the make a budget that’s fair to all Ohioans.

We invite you to our next meeting September 23 at 5:30pm at our office at 3500 Lorain Ave to discuss how we can make Ohio a better place for all Ohioans. For more information or details about the budget and how it affects you, please call Byron at 216-651-2606 or visit us online at www.organizeohio.org/noble.

Editor’s Note: Byron Solomon is a member of Northern Ohioans for Budget Legislation Equality.