Temporary budgets present difficulties

COLUMBUS (AP) — The seven-day budget plan running Ohio government costs the state millions and threatens services to the poor, elderly and children.

The Ohio Senate approved the state’s second temporary budget Monday as an impasse over Gov. Ted Strickland’s plan to expand gambling holds up the full two-year plan. The first temporary budget funded government through Tuesday, and the second is slated to begin today.

Strickland has proposed putting slot machines at Ohio’s racetracks to raise an estimated $933 million, but Senate Republicans say the plan has “fatal flaws.”

Strickland and lawmakers are trying to close a $3.2 billion budget gap in a roughly $54 billion plan.

The temporary budgets present administrative and budgeting challenges to state agencies.

A Medicaid hot line for those with questions about the government-funded health-care program for the poor has shut down. State payments for at-home and community-based care for Alzheimer’s patients have been suspended, putting that care at risk.

“We have promised to pay them, but we aren’t paying them now,” said Cindy Farson, executive director of the Central Ohio Area Agency of the Aging. “So far, they are staying with us, but the fear is that at some point they will hold up services.”

The state is also delaying payments to county developmental disability agencies and local health clinics.

Payments to schools continue, but districts are unable to plan for the upcoming school year and make hires in some cases.

“It puts everybody in limbo,” said Barbara Shaner with the Ohio Association of School Business Officials. “We’ve heard of districts that are putting off hiring and delaying those kind of decisions because they don’t know what their state funding is going to be.”

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction won’t be able to pay its contractors for a range of services, from medical and religious service providers, on time, said spokeswoman Andrea Carson.

Thermostats in two large state office building in downtown Columbus are 2 degrees higher to save money. The use of air conditioning is being limited.