Ohio Municipal League
175 South Third Street
Suite 510
Columbus, Ohio 43215

614-221-4349 Office
614-221-4390 Fax

email:
Legislative Inquiries
John Mahoney
General Inquiries
info@omunileague.org

For email inquiries to the OML, it would be most helpful if you would include your name, position, city or village you represent. 

Also please include a phone number and/or address for instances when we need further contact with you.

Please type “OML Inquiry” in subject line so that we can identify e-mails picked up as spam.

OML E- BULLETIN
If you would like to sign up for the E-Bulletin, send an email here: info@omunileague.org
 In the e-mail, indicate that you would like to be taken off the paper Bulletin list.

PLEASE CIRCULATE THIS BULLETIN TO YOUR COUNCIL, DEPARTMENT HEADS & STAFF

Bulletin # 8                                                   March 23, 2001

A special meeting of the Ohio House Finance Subcommittee was held Thursday to hear testimony regarding opposition to Governor Taft’s proposal to freeze current funding levels for Ohio’s local governments and libraries. This special meeting was held at the request of the League and other local government groups.

The hearing room was filled to capacity as Chairman David Evans (R-Newark) convened the committee meeting which included testimony from two of Ohio’s Municipal Finance Directors, John Stoops of Trotwood and Wilbur Susman of Clayton. Both Stoops and Susman quizzed the committee on how the lost revenue would be replaced. Including the testimony from the finance directors, the committee also heard from a number of Ohio County Commissioners, Librarians and the Ohio Township Association who are all concerned with the ramifications of the proposed freeze on LGF funds and the deficiencies this will create in their current and future operating budgets.

Outrageously, the Executive Director of the State and Local Government Commission, without the knowledge of at least the two municipal representatives on that Commission, testified in the subcommittee in favor of Governor Taft's freeze on the local government and library funds.

Since we cannot recall another instance in which the staff of the Commission has testified in favor of or in opposition to any local government issue since the Commission's inception in 1978, we find it ironic that the first time out of the chute they choose to testify in opposition to the position taken by the League, the County Commissioners Association of Ohio and the Ohio Township Trustees. So much for the body that was suppose to be an advocate for solving local government problems within state government.

In his testimony, the Director suggested that we all ought to be good soldiers and take our lumps in the state budget just like his agency did. The State and Local Government Commission is slated for a $22,000 cut in the first year of the Taft biennial budget and an $8,000 increase in the second year. The local government and library funds freeze equals a loss of about $200 million over the biennium.

With friends like the State and Local Government Commission in state government, we really don't need any enemies! We will keep you informed on any future hearings or actions on this issue.

Earlier this week the House Local Government and Townships Committee met to hold a second hearing of SB 5, the latest annexation bill. The second hearing was for proponent testimony which included OTA Executive Director Mike Cochran and five township trustees from across the state. One of the highlights of the testimony came from Mr. Cochran as he represented to the members of the committee that the reparation schedule included in the legislation is a product of compromise between OML and OTA. We must emphasize that OML has never supported the reparation schedule included in SB 5, and it was not the product of the two-year negotiation process undertaken by the two groups.

Chairman Roman of the Local Government and Townships Committee has scheduled a second round of proponent testimony for next week.

Estate Tax Committee has Second Meeting

Representatives from the National Federation of Independent Business/Ohio, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and Ohio Farmers Union gave testimony before the Joint Committee on Estate and Death Taxes. Most of the testimony was centered on firsthand experience or samples of dealing with the estate tax on a personal level. Those who have concerns with doing away with the Estate Tax will have an opportunity to present their concerns before the committee in the near future.

Civil Service Review Commission Meets

The Commission created to look over Civil Service provisions in the Ohio Revised Code continues to meet. If you would like to meet with the Chair of the Commission, Representative Buehrer, or testify before the commission, please, let the League know so that we may assist you.