Libraries, mental health (again) on Ted's chopping block

[AngryOldDem]

I don't get it. I seriously don't. Isn't there any other way balance the budget?

He wants $227 million, or 50%, cut from libraries. Already Dayton Metro Library is preparing its patrons for cutbacks and possible branch closures. This, in a city that virtually has nothing left.

He wants $111 million cut from drug and alcohol services (28%) and 34% from community-based mental health services. Ted, please come on down to the homeless shelter some evening and see what your closing of Twin Valley Behavioral did last year -- now you're telling us you want to **further** give the addicted and mentally ill the shaft?

http://www.ohio.com/news/break_news/49031996.html

I would support higher taxes if it meant keeping libraries (a lifeblood for many job-seekers, not to mention one of the few hallmarks of a civilized society) and addiction/mental health services intact. Both are desperately needed.

Signing off to send some lawmakers some e-mails...supposedly, according to an update at my branch library, nobody can get through to Strickland's office because his voice mail box is full. Good.

[Kolesar]

1. Cut the ballistic missile submarine budget and send the money to Ohio as revenue sharing

Then there is my favorite: release the nonviolent marijuana dealers and users and close the prisons.

[realisticphish]

2. I'm a library student

we've been hitting legislators hard with messages, and I think it's really having an effect.

What I DO know is that unless he does something splendiferous, Strickland's probably lost my vote

[rg302200]

3. I can understand your anger

but let us put the blame where it really lies...the GOP controlled Senate. Strickland had a 2 year budget plan that did not include any of these cuts to these services and DID include a new school funding formula. The GOP Senate shot it down and came back with their own plan, a worthless one that did nothing but put off these troubles until next year. Gov Strickland is doing the best he can with what he has to work with...an Ohio GOP party bent on making him look bad so they can get the office back. If that means cutting the funds to these services then so be it....I mean do you honestly expect the GOP to keep the citizens of Ohio educated? Of course not, thats how they stay in power! They want a balanced budget but they don't want tax increases and they don't want budget cuts...so whats the answer?

[realisticphish]

4. it looks like

for libraries, at least, they're restoring some of the funding. Perhaps only cutting 60 million (or something like that) instead of 227.

A small victory, I suppose.

[AngryOldDem]

5. I heard it was something like an 11% cut.

And there is more collateral damage from this pissing match, too.

My daughter is set to enter Bowling Green State University this fall, and part of her financial aid is a grant from the state. The bursar point-blank told parents at last week's orientation that we should **not** factor in that money when settling up with tuition, because of the budget controversy.

At the end of the day, it's not going to make much of a difference to our particular situation, but I'm sure it will to a lot of other families. It's sad.

And Jon Husted was on my local news last night pissing and moaning that all this infighting over the budget isn't doing anyone any good. Save it, Jon. Really.