Recently, the state operating budget, the most important piece of legislation passed in a General Assembly, passed from the Ohio House of Representatives on a party line vote. The budget dictates how your tax dollars will be spent for the next two years, and the plan established by Governor Strickland and the House Democrats creates a dangerous situation for taxpayers.
At a time when Ohio’s families are forced to financially conserve, the House Democrats introduced a budget that actually increases government spending by more than $1 billion over the next two years, using budget forecasts that are more optimistic than even the governor’s projections. Furthermore, the budget endangers taxpayers by using temporary funds to finance government programs. More than $4 billion in one-time funding has been included to sustain extravagant government spending. Specifically, temporary resources in the budget include more than $2 billion in federal stimulus funds as well as Governor Strickland’s depletion of Ohio’s rainy day fund.
The plan to use rainy day funds in the future is a problem. Governor Strickland already needs to fill a growing hole in the current budget. The governor announced last week that he may need more than $900 million to meet his constitutional duty to balance the current state budget by July 1. Now, the governor would like to retract his plan to include the use of the rainy day fund, leaving a gaping hole in the next budget. My colleagues and I have continued to voice concerns regarding the use of one-time funds for this very reason. We are concerned about how the governor and House Democrats plan to continue funding new programs in two years when these temporary resources are no longer available and we have no rainy day funds to fall back on. Unfortunately, Ohio’s taxpayers will suffer the consequences with drastic cuts in services or tax increases.
The unsustainability of Governor Strickland and the House Democrats’ budget is alarming. In addition to reliance on one-time funds, the House Democrats’ plan used unrealistically high state revenue projections for the proposed budget when all indicators show that revenues will continue to decline. In fact, the Auditor of State projected the governor’s proposal would leave Ohio with an $8 billion deficit by the end of 2013. Even with this knowledge, House Democrats still increased spending by more than $600 million over the governor’s plan. Our objections to spending at this level fell on deaf ears.
My colleagues and I in the House Republican Caucus offered many amendments and even additional legislation to reduce the cost of government and make operations more efficient. These proposals included reorganizing state government to eliminate duplicative services, which was estimated to save Ohioans $1 billion annually. In addition, an amendment was offered that would address skyrocketing Medicaid costs through careful analysis and program reform. Currently, Ohio’s Medicaid expenditures are 40 percent above the national average and the House Democrats’ plan does nothing to make this system more cost effective. Separately, I have introduced legislation that requires the Auditor of State to conduct performance audits of certain agencies every two years. This would provide a system for state government to improve efficiency and save taxpayer money on an ongoing basis.
As presented, I could not support the passage of the House Democrats’ plan. The state budget has now moved to the Ohio Senate and as debates move forward, I will continue to represent your interests and voice my support for the inclusion of strategies that will help ensure the protection your tax dollars. Feel free to contact my office at (614) 466-9078 or write to me at Representative Todd Snitchler, 77 S. High Street, 10th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215. You may also email me at District50@ohr.state.oh.us.
