Democrats: Ohio's proposed income tax will hurt local governments
State Representatives John Boccieri, Michele Lepore-Hagan and Glenn Holmes said raiding city coffers to help fund the fight against the opiate epidemic will hinder local efforts.
Ohio's budget bill calls for taking $17 million a year for the next two years from municipalities that have an income tax to help fund the fight. The total that would be taken from local municipalities over two years totals approximately $34 million
Boccieri, who represents the 59th District said that the municipal money grab is going after the resources local mayors and communities use to fight the opioid epidemic.
Lepore-Hagan, representing the 58th District, added that the money grab will directly impact the Mahoning Valley.
"In addition, the local government funds sent back to municipalities needs to be restored back to the amount it was before it was cut in half," Lepore-Hagan said.
In two years, Youngstown alone would lose $400,000.
"Every city, Youngstown, Warren and so on are fighting the opiate addiction problem ... This bill is counterproductive. Cities went along with establishing a state tax so that municipalities could pay for mandates from Columbus, but those funds going back to the governments have been cut drastically," Youngstown Mayor John McNally said.
Republicans pushing the measure say $174 million dollars would go back to local communities to help fight addiction.
The lawmakers at the opiate epidemic gathering said they will vote no on the state's biennium budget if the provision is not changed. Ohio must have a budget bill passed by June 30, 2017.