by Michael O'Brien
The ink was not yet dry on the Governor Kasich's so-called jobs budget when over 90 Ohio state employees were issued layoff notices, the first of many more to come. Locally, the City of Nelsonville, in a story published by the Athens Messenger, stands to lose an estimated $100,000 according to City Auditor Sue Powell.
Many local residents are under the impression that local fire and police services are funded by local tax levies and that these services will not be affected. According the Messenger's report, "Nelsonville does not have any levies that support those services".
Overall, state funding to local governments is expected to fall from its current level of $665 million to $339 million in FY 2013.
Mark Guarino, reporting for the Christian Science Monitor, cited a poll released Monday by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati which shows "53% of Ohioans favor a combination of tax increases and state spending cuts to balance the budget". This compares to 35% who favor solely cuts in state spending.
Progressives and Democrats must ask themselves how far to carry the fight against the Kasich's no jobs budget and Senate Bill 5. This is only the start of a long downhill slide. With Gov. Kasich’s approval rating at only 40% and with a majority of Ohioans favoring a combination of tax increases and spending cuts the Governor will find Ohioans bringing the fight straight to the Statehouse door.
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