Small group of protestors at venue for Kasich speech

Small group of protestors at venue for Kasich speech

LIMA

Their ranks were a lot smaller compared to last year’s State of the State, but the few protesters outside of the hall where Gov. John Kasich offered his annual address to lawmakers were vocal in their opposition to his policies and budget proposals.

“Local governments are required to provide more and more services — fire, EMS, maintain cemeteries and parks, etc. — services that affect our citizens daily and do it with less and less money,” said Theresa Allen, a former township trustee from Hardin County. “We deserve to have that money given back to us.”

Allen was among about a dozen protesters in Lima Tuesday, offering comments to reporters during a shortened press conference among snow flurries and blustery winds on the city’s central square.

They said the governor’s two-year, $63 billion spending plan would further hurt local governments and schools and provide tax cuts that would benefit the wealthiest residents.

“It’s not fair that we shoulder the majority of these taxes when the rich don’t have to,” said Shonda Sneed, from Yellow Springs.

Statehouse Republicans and Kasich and his administration counter that the biennial budget proposal would result in a net tax cut of $1.4 billion. This would happen after a proposed income tax and sales tax cut, oil and gas hike and a broadening of the sales tax to include additional services.