State trims funding to municipalities

[geiger]

From the Columbus Dispath Politics:

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/01/01/copy/downspin.ART_ART_01-01-09_B1_0UCD56Q.html?adsec=politics&sid=101


Thursday, January 1, 2009 3:28 AM
By Dean Narciso and Jim Woods

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Local governments will receive nearly 7 percent less in state funding than they expected weeks ago, according to a recent notice from the Ohio Department of Taxation.....


The state's allocation is based on a formula designed to distribute state revenues fairly to Ohio's 88 counties, which in turn disperse money monthly to cities and townships.

"When times are good, we have a system that shares those good times," Kohlstrand said. "When times are not so good, we have a system where everyone feels it."

Currently, 3.7 percent of all state tax revenues, or about $699 million, is shared with local governments, Kohlstrand said. Ohio also distributes tax money to 251 library systems.

"The lag is typically anywhere from 18 months to two years and it's related in large part to the lag in property-tax collections," wrote Michael A. Pagano and Christopher W. Hoene in a report for the National League of Cities.

Townships also will be affected. The Ohio Township Association is telling its members to budget at least 8 percent to 10 percent less for the new year "as the economic conditions are likely to worsen rather than get better."

[NEOBuckeye]

1. Local government consolidation is inevitable.

Especially in metropolitan areas with duplicate administration of services over a relatively small and concentrated area. It might not happen this year, but within the next five years, consolidation of services and government will become necessary.

[geiger]

2. The township system in Ohio is SO expensive, but everyone wants their own "way."

A few years back in Salem, Council voted to consolidate their fire district with the township (I forget how many thousands and thousands of dollars would have been saved), and the firefighters brought union organizers up from Columbus to campaign agst all of those people. I think they also held the re-organization up in court, but ultimately the district was laid aside by the new Council.
Absolutely insane.

[Kolesar]

3. Ohio has over 600 local governments and special governments, the 4th highest in the US

Which is quite inefficient. That includes Metroparks, school districts, and other overlapping districts.

The Port Authorities are an ineffective government that should be obsoleted and deleted.

[geiger]

4. port authorities AND the township system

[Kolesar]

5. Large townships should be turned into municipalities

There are too many issues that cannot be handled by a three person board with scant law making authority. I gather that in the last few years, townships have been given more authority. Nonetheless, the administration by three at large trustees is hardly representative. I have observed that two trustees can collude and take authority from the other trustee. I have also observed skimming and payoffs to political allies in that system.