State representatives hold roundtable discussion on tax credit proposal

YOUNGSTOWN Two Ohio lawmakers met in Youngstown on Monday to host a roundtable discussion, aiming to get feedback from the community on a tax credit proposal.

State Representatives Crystal Lett (D-Columbus) and Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) met at The Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County to discuss the "Thriving Families Tax Credit."

The "Thriving Families Tax Credit" proposal aims to provide Ohio families with children with a variable, refundable tax credit.

According to a news release explaining the proposal, the tax credit would give nearly 968,000 families a boost by providing a benefit:

• Up to $1,000 per child aged zero to five years old
• Up to $500 per child aged six through 17

Families earning less than $65,000 annually would qualify for the full benefit amount, with benefits that taper off for families earning between $65,000 and $85,000.

Representative Lett told 21 News that the goal of roundtable discussions, such as the one on Monday, is to listen to the needs of families.

"We will continue to push because I think this is the best place to bring families out of poverty and to give them chances to move up the socioeconomic ladder, which everybody deserves to get the opportunity to do," said Lett.

Representative McNally also outlined how she believes that this tax credit could help families that may be struggling with rising costs.

"This 'Thriving Families Tax Credit' is a way to alleviate those pressure points for families so that they can be back in our workforce, so that they can have financial stability," said McNally.

Both representatives say that they will continue to hold these roundtable discussions across Ohio.

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