Ohio social service advocates want taxes raised

COLUMBUS (AP) — Advocates for a range of social service programs continue to pressure lawmakers to raise taxes as part of the solution to Ohio’s $3.2 billion two-year budget gap.

Rough estimates from the state taxation department show that a one percentage point increase in the state sales tax would yield an additional $1.2 billion a year. A half-point increase would bring in $600 million more a year.

Suspending the final round of income tax reductions that began in 2005 would yield $450 million each year.

Gov. Ted Strickland and lawmakers from both parties have said raising taxes would be detrimental during the recession. They are focusing on making cuts to the two-year budget plan that starts July 1.