9016-18 Urge State to Invest Surplus in Municipalities

Home Browse Search

RESOLUTION NO: 9016 -18 BY: Anderson, Bullock, Litton, George, O'Leary, O'Malley, Rader A RESOLUTION strongly urging the Ohio Governor and members of the Ohio General Assembly to invest the state budget surplus in municipalities. WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council have been advised of Ohio Governor John Kasich's proposal to use the projected State of Ohio budget surplus of $147 million at the end of the biennium to fund an income tax withholding reduction and bring the state's rainy day fund to its maximum legal limit; and WHEREAS, the Ohio General Assembly has repeatedly decreased funding and revenue sharing in recent years by way of significantly reducing the Local Government Fund, eliminating the Estate Tax, and phasing out the Tangible Personal Property Tax; and WHEREAS, these reductions have resulted in a local loss of revenue of approximately $3 million annually; and WHEREAS, this sudden revenue loss has made it increasingly difficult to provide basic services, rebuild infrastructure, and bolster public safety services to fight the opioid epidemic; and WHEREAS, when municipalities experience success in fostering safe communities, building sound infrastructure, and increasing economic development, the State of Ohio reaps the benefits as well; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO: Section 1. Governor Kasich and the Ohio General Assembly should distribute the budget surplus revenue to Ohio's municipalities at the end of the biennium, ensuring that these local communities are able to provide crucial services and improvements in infrastructure and public safety. Section 2. Council hereby declares its opposition to Governor Kasich and the Ohio General Assembly depositing the state budget surplus into the rainy day fund and an income tax withholding reduction. Section 3. The Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to forward copies of this resolution to the office of the Governor and the clerks of the Ohio Senate and the Ohio House of Representatives. Section 4. It is found and determined that all formal actions of this Council concerning and relating to the passage of this Ordinance were adopted in an open meeting of this Council,