Friday, October 18, 2002
It would be tough to persuade state residents to approve a tax increase, the governor says.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Despite state officials' cutting about $700 million to $800 million from the state budget in the past three years, Gov. Bob Taft says most Ohioans are not getting the message that the state is facing significant fiscal problems.
"It's a dilemma; we've cut deeply, but we've cut in a way that does the least damage and attracts the least attention," Taft said Thursday during a meeting with Vindicator writers. "Most people don't realize how serious it is. If we closed the parks, they would notice. ... Most people don't follow it that closely unless it's a real crisis."
Because of that, it would be a tough task to persuade state residents to vote for a possible tax increase, if the decision is to go that route, Taft said.
'Last resort'
"It's going to take a real selling job in the next budget if we have to go for a tax increase, and a real selling job to the Legislature to fund our priorities," Taft said. "We cannot rule out an increase in rates, but it should be put on a statewide ballot. That's the last resort. We'll try to do it other ways first."
Taft said he will continue to close tax loopholes before a tax increase is even considered.
Taft said it is still too early to determine if the state's participation in the Big Game lottery has generated much-needed revenue, but he added that there is no doubt that the multistate game has hurt the Ohio Lottery's profits.
Taft stood by his early decisions to not consider video lottery terminals at the state's horse racing tracks to increase revenues.
If re-elected, Taft, a Republican, said he wants to increase funding for higher education, which took an 8 percent cut this year in the state budget crisis. Even with the cut this year, Taft said the state spends 10 percent more on higher education today than it did when he took office about four years ago. Also, there are 27,000 more people enrolled in Ohio colleges today than four years ago.
"It's tough and we have to do what we can to support higher education," said Taft, who wants to reinstate tuition caps for state universities. The caps were eliminated by the state Legislature.
His record for Valley
Taft also said he has done much for the Democratic-dominated Mahoning Valley, including providing a $63 million incentive package to keep General Motors at Lordstown.
He also pointed to the state's support for 88 economic development projects in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, support for more than $20 million in capital improvement appropriations for the Valley, $250 million in highway funding during his administration, and the state paying for 80 percent of the Youngstown school district's $163 million facilities plan.
"This isn't my base [of political support], but I've tried to be responsive and visible in the Valley," he said.
Despite polls showing Taft with a lead over his opponent, Democrat Tim Hagan, the governor isn't taking anything for granted.
"I don't trust polls," he said. "We are seeing higher voter intensity in Democratic areas and lower voter intensity in Republican areas. I was just in Cincinnati trying to motivate people to vote. Most people in Cincinnati don't know about Hagan or that I have a race. Our challenge is to motivate voters."
skolnick@vindy.com