Portage County
Posted November 08, 2012 in Press Releases
State OverviewDownload PDFImpact of the 2012-13 state budget (HB 153)
Ohio’s budget for 2012 and 2013 cut local government aid by a billion dollars. This means cuts in services we depend on, from road repair and emergency services to crossing guards, senior transportation and child protective services. What are the implications for Portage County?
The state cut the Local Government Fund to the county, forcing Portage County to make cuts to jurisdictions within the county. The state also cut direct funding to municipalities, and slashed reimbursements for taxes it had eliminated, taxes that businesses and utilities had paid to local governments. School districts and the public library fund were also cut. Losses in calendar years 2012 and 2013, compared to 2010 and 2011, include, among others:
- Public Library Fund............................. -253 thousand
- Schools............................................ -$10.4 million
- County operations............................... -$5.7 million (including LGF for townships and parks)
- Aurora.............................................. -$563 thousand
- Kent................................................. -$1.4 million
- Ravenna City..................................... -$595 thousand
- Streetsboro....................................... -$435 thousand
- Mantua-Shalersville Fire District............ -$132 thousand
Loss to health and human service levies
- County mental health............................... -$2.0 million
- County children’s services........................ -$288 thousand
- Portage General Health District.................. -$39 thousand
Notes and Quotes
Budget cuts mean that funding for The Portage County Senior Center will be threatened. “I go to the senior center often . . . It is an integral part of our community,” said Joseph Bica, Mayor of Ravenna. From Gallick, Thomas,“Portage may close senior center: Budget cuts could claim contract for facility on Oakwood Street,” Recordpub.com, December 9, 2011. http://tinyurl.com/9558gzo.
Portage Senior Center found a way to use federal money to fund its services for 2012, but Commissioner Tommie Joe Marsilio states that the rest of its future was in doubt. From States, Larry, “Portage Senior Center Saved, For Now,” (w/ Audio) Akron News Now, December 15, 2011. http://tinyurl.com/c78mr9r.
Portage County Library says, “We are seeking donations due to materials budget cuts.” From “Support the Library,” Portage County District Library, http://tinyurl.com/8pwrk5w.
NOTES: The current state budget cuts the Local Government Fund to counties, municipalities and townships by 25 percent in the first year and by 50 percent in the second year. This 77-year old state revenue sharing program has, for generations, been essential to helping Ohio communities fund schools, provide services, and lift people out of poverty. The current state budget also phases out most of the tangible personal property tax and public utility property tax reimbursements, which were promised to local governments when the state cut taxes in recent years. These are not the only losses to local governments because of this budget. There are others in specific programs. Here we detail some of the bigger shifts. Change in revenues shown here include:
- Local Government Fund "County Undivided Fund," which counties share with their cities, townships and villages. We show how much less money the counties are receiving under the current 2-year state budget (for 2012 and 2013) compared to the two years under the prior state budget (which was for 2010 and 2011). Here the funds are shown on a calendar year basis because that is how the tax department forecasts and records their distribution to local governments, and it is how local governments budget. (The state budget is based on the fiscal year, July 1 through June 30.)
- Local Government “Municipal Direct” allocation from the Local Government Fund that the state gives directly to municipalities with an income tax. This is also shown in terms of funding provided in the calendar years 2012 and 2013 compared to 2010 and 2011.
- Property tax reimbursements promised to local governments during tax reductions enacted earlier in the decade. The loss of funding in calendar years 2012 and 2013 is compared to the level of funding provided in 2010 and 2011.
The figures for changes in funding levels are based on data provided by and spreadsheets online at the Ohio Department of Taxation for local government funds and tax reimbursement distributions.