Tax official visits Ohio State Fair

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Nothing says Ohio State Fair like deep-fried candy bars, livestock contests, rides on the Midway – and a chance to talk taxes with the taxman?

With an eye toward the huge crowds coming to Columbus for the annual festival, Ohio’s tax commissioner has been making the rounds over the past week in an effort to collect ideas – not dollars, he jokes – from taxpayers.

Tax Commissioner Joe Testa sought to itemize a few of his priorities with fairgoers Tuesday after belting out the Beatles tune “Taxman” at one event.

Testa then encouraged attendees to enter their names into a drawing to win a chance to meet with him in Columbus later this year to discuss ways to improve taxes in the state.

“We want to do more,” he told the audience. “We want to drive down taxes and make Ohio more taxpayer friendly.”

Testa said the administration of Republican Gov. John Kasich wants to incorporate any good suggestions from taxpayers into the governor’s final budget pitch this spring. Testa also spread the word at a magic show and log-sawing competition earlier at the fair. Kasich has more than two years left in his second term.

“It would be wonderful if some idea, or more than one, from individual Ohioans we connected with at the state fair actually gets into state law next year,” Testa said. “Wouldn’t that be cool?”

Fairgoers could submit cards with their contact information at a tax agency booth for the chance to meet with Testa. So far, more than 70 people have entered. The department hopes to draw between 15 and 20 names for what the governor has described as “an unfiltered focus group” on taxes.