Will Ohio Republicans Defund the Police?
We'll find out this week...
Property tax increases are a major concern in Ohio. And Statehouse Republicans are considering making the situation a whole lot worse.
Instead of implementing real property tax relief like the circuit breaker policy described here and here, Statehouse Republicans are trying to blame and punish local schools and communities.
Here are just a few of the tax changes currently included in Ohio’s budget bill (TAXCD104 in this document):
1.) Ohio’s budget bill bans replacement levies (HB 28)
Replacement levies are an important tool used by local school districts (and others) to raise revenue when needed. They allow local school districts to replace an existing levy to adjust revenue for property value growth.
2.) It bans crucial types of school renewal levies, such as emergency levies
3.) It bans renewal levies with an increase
This means communities would have to hold a vote on the renewal and a SEPARATE vote on new millage. Imagine how confusing and overwhelming that would be for voters. Many people would reasonably think there are two separate levies on the ballot, increasing the odds that the levy fails and the community loses vital services.
4.) It would require a 2/3 vote by your local school board to put any educational levy on the ballot, rather than the current simple majority.
5.) It would require that property tax refunds be issued to taxpayers if a school district carries over 50% of their operating budget into the next year
This provision is especially outrageous because school districts carry money over SO THEY DON’T HAVE TO GO TO THE BALLOT. School districts never know what funding will look like in the next state budget. They carry money over so they won’t need to put a levy on the ballot and ask voters for more money. Now Republicans are trying to punish schools for being fiscally responsible??
Democratic State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney calls the carryover cap "fake property tax relief." She says it will “injure every single school district's bank account…so they're going to have to go to the ballot” more often.
This could also be a convenient way for politicians to accuse school districts of failing to budget for the future, then claim the state needs to take over the district…
EVEN MORE CONCERNING is the possibility that HB 335 will be added to the state budget bill this week.
HB 335 tries to decrease property taxes by eliminating “inside millage” and limiting how much money local governments receive from rising property values.
But local governments have been sounding the alarm that this bill would devastate schools, police, fire, veterans services, infrastructure, and more.
“Make no mistake, HB 335 is the single largest attempt to defund the police in Ohio’s history,” warned Warren County Auditor Matt Nolan, speaking directly to his fellow Republicans.
On top of all that, Ohio’s budget also includes a massive tax cut for the rich, which would phase down state income tax to a flat rate of 2.75%.
“Income tax for the rich” is not an opinion. It’s a fact.
As Cleveland.com reported, “the Ohio Senate’s draft budget plan, unveiled last week, would offer a $1.4 billion state income tax cut, only for taxpayers making more than $100,000 per year.”
That’s how brazen Statehouse Republicans are trying to be with gifts to their donors.
ANGRY? CHANNEL IT INTO ACTION. We only have a few days left to demand better from Ohio’s Republican politicians.
1.) Check out this longer list of state budget items and actions to take: bit.ly/OhioBudget2025
2.) Contact Governor DeWine (and his top staff!). Tell him to VETO (remove) any tax changes that would harm our local schools and first responders: bit.ly/MikeDeWine
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
Hello. My name is [NAME], and I am an Ohio voter.
If the state budget bill passes in its current form, our communities are in [big/serious/real] trouble.
Governor DeWine has the power to remove some of the most [damaging/expensive/devastating/extreme] tax changes from the state budget bill.
I am especially worried about [PICK ONE OF THE TAX CHANGES LISTED ABOVE].
[GIVE ONE SENTENCE EXPLAINING WHY]. Please veto this item from the bill.
I am also extremely worried about [PICK ANOTHER TAX CHANGE LISTED ABOVE].
[GIVE ONE SENTENCE EXPLAINING WHY]. Please veto this item from the bill.
Does Governor DeWine promise to veto any budget items that would harm our local schools and our first responders?
I will be sharing your response with my networks and urging more people to contact you.
3.) Contact the Republican legislators listed below. Each of them has the power to make changes to the budget bill right now. And each of them must be held accountable if they refuse.
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
Hello. My name is [NAME], and I am an Ohio voter.
If the state budget bill passes in its current form, our communities are in [big/serious/real] trouble.
[LEGISLATOR] has the power to remove some of the most [damaging/expensive/devastating/extreme] tax changes from the state budget bill.
I am especially worried about [PICK ONE OF THE TAX CHANGES LISTED ABOVE].
This item must be removed from the bill. [GIVE ONE SENTENCE EXPLAINING WHY].
I am also extremely worried about [PICK ANOTHER TAX CHANGE LISTED ABOVE].
This item must be removed from the bill. [GIVE ONE SENTENCE EXPLAINING WHY].
Will [LEGISLATOR] help make this happen before passing the budget out of conference committee?
I will be sharing your response with my networks and urging more people to contact you.
Senate Finance Chair — Jerry Cirino:
614-644-7718
Email: Cirino@OhioSenate.gov
Twitter: https://x.com/SenatorCirino
Facebook: ttps://www.facebook.com/ElectCirino
NOTE — He’s on the “conference committee” that controls the next step of the budget process
Ask if he’s going to do everything Matt Huffman tells him to do, or if he’s his own man and chair of the Senate Finance Committee
Senate Finance Vice Chair — Brian Chavez:
(614) 466-6508
Chavez@OhioSenate.gov
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SenBrianChavez
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/senatorchavez
NOTE — He’s on the “conference committee” that controls the next step of the budget process
Ask if he’s going to do everything Matt Huffman tells him to do, or if he’s his own man
House Finance Chair — Brian Stewart:
Phone: (614) 466-1464
Email: rep12@OhioHouse.gov
Fax: (614) 719-3961
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrianStewartOH
NOTE — He’s on the “conference committee” that controls the next step of the budget process
Ask if he’s going to do everything Matt Huffman tells him to do, or if he’s his own man and Chair of the House Finance Committee.
House Finance Vice Chair — Mike Dovilla:
Phone: (614) 466-4895
Email: rep17@ohiohouse.gov
Fax: (614) 719-6957
Twitter: https://x.com/mikedovilla
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovillaforohio
NOTE — He’s on the “conference committee” that controls the next step of the budget process
Ask if he’s going to do everything Matt Huffman tells him to do, or if he’s his own man
Senate President — Rob McColley:
(614) 466-8150
McColley@OhioSenate.gov
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rob_McColley
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/McColley4Ohio/
Ask if he’s going to do everything Matt Huffman tells him to do, or if he’s his own man running his own chamber
DON’T LET HIM (or his staff) claim he can’t help you because he isn’t on the budget “conference committee” — Remind him that he’s the Senate President
House Speaker — Matt Huffman:
Phone: (614) 466-6344
Email: rep78@ohiohouse.gov
Fax: (614) 719-3977
Twitter: https://twitter.com/matthuffman1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattHuffmanOH/
DON’T LET HIM (or his staff) claim he can’t help you because he isn’t on the budget “conference committee” — Remind him that he’s the House Speaker