Public Policy Advocates

Apportionment Board, Third Frontier Top Legislative Priorities For 2010

House Speaker Armond Budish and Senate President Bill Harris have indicated that reforming the Apportionment Board and renewing Ohio’s Third Frontier bong program are the top priorities for the General Assembly in the first weeks of 2010.  While the Ohio Senate has already passed a measure aimed at changing the redistricting process in Ohio, the Speaker indicated that his caucus plans to consider a separate measure in the new year.  However, President Harris has said he will push to put his caucus’ measure on the May 2010 ballot.  Also slated for the May 2010 ballot is a renewal of the $1 billion Third Frontier bond program.  A renewal measure has been cosponsored in the House by Reps. Jay Goyal (D-Mansfield and Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland).  Committee Hearings are slated to resume Tuesday, ending the Winter recess which began in mid-December.  These resolutions must be passed by the General Assembly by February 2nd in order to qualify for the May ballot.

American Legacy Foundation Asks Ohio Supreme Court to Restore Tobacco Fund

The American Legacy Fund recently asked the Ohio Supreme Court to determine the outcome of a legal battle over the state’s decision to spend $258 million in anti-smoking money for general budget revenue.  The court will determine whether to get involved with a legal battle triggered by the Legislature’s decision to transfer money from the Tobacco Fund to the General Revenue Fund in House Bill 544.  Judge David Fais in Franklin County common pleas, the original trial judge, ruled last August that the funds could only be used for anti-smoking efforts, and not for general budget issues.  However, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned that decision, affirming the actions of the Legislature.

State Tax Revenues Fall Short in December

The state’s tax revenues have been running ahead of projections in the final months of 2010.  However, that trend ceased in December, with revenues reportedly $37 million below projections.  The state’s year-to-date revenues are still ahead of projections, but the December figures coupled with record numbers of new unemployment claims are cause for concern going forward.  If revenues continue to decline, the Legislature may be forced to enact a budget corrections bill to update tax revenue projections, and balance the budget accordingly.