County Job-Loss Pattern Persists
Nearly 15,000 positions gone since 2001
by Gary T. Pakulski
Unemployment rose slightly in Lucas County last month, and metro Toledo remains on track to record its thirdstraight year of job losses.
Valuing the Tax-Exempt Property of Private Nonprofit Hospitals
Policy Matters Ohio was commissioned by the Cuyahoga County treasurer to research
issues related to the possible development of a program under which local nonprofit
hospitals would make payments in lieu of property taxes (PILOTs). This report estimates
the value of property-tax exemptions for the major hospital systems, and finds it to be
substantial. …
Executive Summary
Includes description of related report, Hospital payments in lieu of taxes: The national picture
Hospital Payments in Lieu of Taxes: The National Picture
A number of the nation’s elite hospitals make some kind of payment to the cities in which
they are located, in lieu of taxes or for specific services. These range from very little to
nearly $2 million a year. The Cleveland Clinic is ranked fourth on the U.S. News &
World Report Honor Roll of best hospitals that excelled in at least six of 17 specialties.
University Hospitals (UH) also is ranked among the top in various specialties. Both the
Clinic and UH prominently use these rankings in their marketing. Four of the other 13
hospitals listed on the U.S. News Honor Roll are state institutions. …
Executive Summary
Includes description of related report, Valuing the tax-exempt property of private nonprofit hospitals
Unemployment Compensation: You Must Make More to Qualify in 2005
An Ohio minimum-wage worker who works 36 hours a week every week during 2005 will not qualify for unemployment compensation. That will be the result of the eligibility requirements for 2005 just released by the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services. Under a formula that ties eligibility to the state average weekly wage, workers will have to average at least $186 a week over a minimum of 20 weeks, up from $181 this year.
Ohio’s earnings test is among the highest of any state in the country. It means that a worker may earn as much as $9600 next year and not be eligible for benefits.
A study released earlier this year by National Employment Law Project and Policy Matters Ohio examined what would happen if Ohio’s requirements were changed so that those making at least $100 a week for 20 weeks would qualify for benefits. It found that an additional 352,000 individuals, or 6.8 percent of the state’s workforce, would potentially be eligible should they become unemployed (a copy of the study is available at http://www.policymattersohio.org/ucompohio.htm)
Economy, Bad Budget Produce Setbacks
The sheriff’s civil division has piles of papers awaiting service.
Youngstown Vindicator
WARREN Two bad economies have joined forces to put several hundred financial transactions on hold in Trumbull County.
Economic realities of the Mahoning Valley, coupled with the county sheriff’s department’s own budget issues, have resulted in an eightmonth backlog for sheriff’s sales, or about 800 transactions.
