Lawmakers debate freeze on Ohio income tax

COLUMBUS — Is it a tax increase or not?

That was one of the questions lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle and members of Gov. Ted Strickland’s administration debated late Monday afternoon, as the Ohio House began hearings on legislation to freeze income tax rates at 2008 levels, forgoing a decrease that was to take effect this year.

Republicans contend the move, supported by Strickland and House Democrats, is a tax increase.

“It sounds like, if we have a deficit and we’re trying to raise $844 million new dollars, that that’s a tax increase,” said Rep. Randy Gardner, a Republican from Bowling Green. “The fact of the matter is House Bill 318 raises income tax rates for every tax bracket in the state of Ohio. Current law is lower than what it would be if HB 318 would pass.”

But House Democrats, who control the chamber, and administration officials said the freeze is a freeze, not a hike. Most taxpayers will pay less in 2009 than they did a year earlier.

“The amount of the tax they pay, is it more or less?” asked Rep. Vernon Sykes, a Democrat from Akron and chairman of the finance committee. “... The amount of taxes [to the] taxpayers is less, so it cannot be calculated as an increase.”

Read more in Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com