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Leaders from 9 counties still eye state aid
Commissioners seek fewer mandates to offset less funding
WARREN
Concern over pending state budget cuts dominated discussion among commissioners from nine counties and state legislators Friday.
“We realize we’ve got to accept some cuts,” said Larry Long, executive director of the Columbus-based County Commissioners Association of Ohio.
He added, however, “We need and deserve adequate support” because almost everything counties do is required by state law.
When state funding to county governments is reduced, Long told state legislators, “You’ve got to take some of the unfunded state mandates off the backs of counties.”
Some 40 people met Friday for the association-sponsored meeting at Cafe 422, with commissioners coming from nine counties. Such meetings take place in each region of the state every two years as the new General Assembly session begins.
The events, which feature a meal, are funded by association dues, which come from tax dollars. The tab for Friday’s luncheon was $810, including the gratuity, Long said.
Although Gov. John Kasich’s proposed budget likely won’t be unveiled until about March 15, Long said he has heard rumors of anywhere from a 20-percent cut to total elimination of the state’s local government fund.
Dan Polivka, chairman of the Trumbull County commissioners, said he hopes the LGF doesn’t get cut.
“I know they have to make cuts somewhere, but that’s very important for the services for the constituents of Trumbull County,” he said, noting his county’s general fund gets $5 million annually in LGF.
The LGF is the general purpose revenue-sharing program for local governments. It was created in 1934 when the state sales tax was enacted. The fund gets its money from state’s income, sales and corporate franchise taxes.
“Without the local government money, where are we going to make up $5.5 million? It’s very disturbing to think of it,” said Mahoning County Commissioner Anthony T. Traficanti.
“We will be very frugal in our funding,” said Columbiana County Commissioner Penny Traina, who expressed the same concern. That county’s 2010 and 2011 budgets were constant at $17,987,000 each year, and the $680,000 carried over from 2010 to 2011 was not appropriated, she said.
“We have to build the tax base back up so we don’t have this problem in the future, and the way we do that is helping to put people back to work,” said state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd. “We have to not only stop the bleeding, but build on the business that we have” in Ohio.
“We’re going to make some changes and transform state government. From what I’ve heard, no agency or department is going to be exempt,” from cost-cutting scrutiny, said freshman State Rep. Casey Kozlowski of Ashtabula, R-99th, who represents Ashtabula and northern Trumbull counties.
Freshman State Rep. Al Landis of Dover, R-96th, who retired from the steel industry in September 2009, said he is taking a “business approach” to the state’s financial problems.
“We’ve got to get people back to work here in Ohio. We’ve got to create an environment and an attitude where we can keep the jobs that we already have,” Landis said.
Kasich is a Republican, and Republicans control both the Ohio House and Senate.
Schiavoni noted that federal stimulus money is no longer available to assist the state with its budget woes.
The state must fill an expected $8 billion to $10 billion budget deficit by July 1.