OHIO SENATE Proposal keeps local, library funds

The governor will continue to fight for an increase in the funds, an official said.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Local officials are breathing a sigh of relief after the state Senate decided not to eliminate funding for libraries or local governments in its new two-year budget proposal.
"That's very gratifying to see," said Carlton Sears, director of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County.
Lee Kohler, president of the Mahoning County Trustees and Clerks Association, added, "That's sure a lot better than getting nothing."
Library and government officials across Ohio are concerned that the state will eliminate library funding in its budget for the next two fiscal years in order to avoid a deficit.
The state gives $12 million to Mahoning County from its local government and local government revenue assistance funds. Half of that stays with county government, while the remaining half is given to townships and municipalities by the county.
Meanwhile, about 90 percent of the local library's $11.6 million budget comes from the state's library and local government support fund.
Unveiled proposal
On Wednesday, the Senate unveiled a budget proposal calling for the library fund to receive 5.7 percent of the state income tax revenue -- an estimated $475 million -- in each of the next two fiscal years.
The proposal also calls for the revenue assistance fund to receive $98.5 million, while the local government fund would receive $705 million.
Those numbers are identical to what was included in the budget bill approved by the House. It's also what the library and local government funds received this year.
Previous House bills called for cutting total funding to public libraries and local governments by $1.4 billion over the next two years.
Trustee's comments
"Obviously, we'd expected the worst," said Austintown Township Trustee David Ditzler. Trustees are trying to cut $1.2 million from their budget to avoid deficit.
"It's that much further we're not going to be in the hole," Ditzler added.
The Senate budget is expected to be sent to the Senate finance committee as well as the full Senate next week. A conference committee of the House and Senate would then consider both proposed budgets.
The conference committee would send the final version of the budget to Gov. Bob Taft for his signature.
Taft had called for a 2-percent increase in local government and library funds in each year of the budget, and Taft spokesman Orest Holubec said the governor would continue to fight for that increase.
Holubec wouldn't say if the governor would sign a budget bill without an increase.
Sears has said many of the county's 19 libraries would close if state funds are cut substantially. He noted, however, that the library still may lose funds in the future if state income tax revenue decreases.
Cut hours
State officials predicted last year that there would be a 3-percent funding cut in the state's new budget. In response, local officials cut branch hours to save money.
Sears said the library most likely won't change its hours again until at least fall after it completes a strategic plan for its future.
In order to pay for its budget, the Senate proposed a temporary penny increase in the state sales tax.
Kohler said he's worried the tax increase would hurt the Mahoning County's chances of passing a 0.5-percent sales tax renewal next year. Revenue from the sales tax pays for roads, economic development, local agencies and development in the county's cities, townships and villages.
"I guess we can live with" the local government fund amounts in the budget, Kohler said. "As long as the people in Mahoning County remember the 1 percent is for the state, but please renew the 0.5 percent."
hill@vindy.com