SALEM Rep explains funding law

Council members said they only want a fair share of local government funds.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
SALEM -- State Rep. Chuck Blasdel of East Liverpool, R-1st, addressed city council about a bill he sponsored that will likely change how state dollars known as local government funds are distributed.
Blasdel sponsored House Bill 329, which Gov. Bob Taft signed into law Thursday. It takes effect 90 days from that date, Blasdel said.
Councilwoman Nancy Cope asked Blasdel the question she said she's been asked by several residents: "What happens next?"
Blasdel said the LGF distribution plan for 2003 must be in place by September.
He said House Bill 329 is designed to allow representatives of a majority of a county's population, and the county commissioners, to determine how LGF money is distributed.
The old law
Under the old law, in effect since 1990, commissioners, representatives of subdivisions that represent a majority of the county population, and representatives of the largest city had to all agree to the distribution plan, he said.
By virtue of its status as the county's largest city, East Liverpool could veto plans agreed upon by the other two groups, even when the other groups represented a majority of the county population, Blasdel explained.
Blasdel said he sponsored the bill changing that in response to complaints from many Columbiana County communities that East Liverpool uses its veto power to control the distribution formula and claim an unfair share of the annual funds.
Council members thanked Blasdel for the many hours he spent preparing the bill. They said they don't intend to use the new law to take an unfair share of the funds away from East Liverpool, but simply to make LGF distribution equitable.
This year, $5.2 million in local government funds is allocated for the county. East Liverpool will get nearly 27 percent.