Lucas County
Posted November 05, 2012 in Press Releases
State OverviewDownload PDfImpact of 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 Lucas County?
The state cut the Local Government Fund to the county, forcing Lucas 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................... -$1.0 million
- Schools.................................. -$68.4 million
- County operations..................... -$20.2 million (includes LGF for townships and parks)
- Maumee.................................. -$954.0 thousand
- Oregon................................... -$1.3 million
- Sylvania................................. -$761.0 thousand
- Sylvania Township.................... -$1.5 million
- Toledo.................................... -$1.8 million
- Toledo Regional Transit.............. -$2.6 million
Loss to health and human service levies
- County mental health/Developmental disabilities................ -$4.1 million
- County children’s services............................................ -$2.3 million
- County seniors services............................................... -$383.0 thousand
Notes and Quotes
Government positions will be eliminated by attrition rather than layoffs to make up for the shortfall in the county’s budget. From Giammarise, Kate, “Lucas County Commissioners approve tighter 2012 budget.” Toledo Blade, December 14, 2011. http://tinyurl.com/9udn4x6.
State funding for Lucas County’s Mental Health & Recovery Services Board has been eliminated and there will be fewer services offered for mentally ill and their families. From Long, Christine. “Mental health service cuts in Lucas County,” 13 abc.com, February 29, 2012. http://tinyurl.com/8uq6mvq; and Giammarise, Kate, “Mental-health care services face cuts,” February 9, 2012. http://tinyurl.com/8sswf24.
Toledo’s Recreation Division was hit hard by budget cuts. The Toledo Umpire Association, the boxing program and tee ball were eliminated. Only five of the city’s 11 pools opened. Berry, Dick, “Toledo Recreation Division makes major budget cuts.” Toledo News Now, Dec. 5, 2011. http://tinyurl.com/9stxrvp; and Baker, A, “Pared-Down, Budget-Conscious Set of Toledo City Pools to Open.” Toledo News Now. http://tinyurl.com/9q6kxwo.
“The Sylvania Public School District plans to cut 12.4% of its staff in an effort to make up for a $6 million budget shortfall…. The board also announced increased sports participation fees and classes cut including several AP and honors courses. At the high school, class sizes would increase from 23 to 28 students.” From Rice, Laura. “Sylvania public schools to cut staff and classes: a 12.4 percent cut to staff.” NorthwestOhio.com. January 10, 2011. http://tinyurl.com/cbd78ld.
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.); the Local Government “Municipal Direct” allocation from the Local Government Fund that the state gives directly to localities. This is also shown in terms of funding provided in the calendar years 2012 and 2013 compared to 2010 and 2011; and 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.