The Pirates of Cow Town

Columbus' raid on the counties, Townships & Municipalities has not gone unnoticed, at least, in Hamilton County. The HamCo Auditor published a rather scathing report discussing what's been taken from the citizens & their local jurisdictions solely to overflow the capitol's coffers.

State support for local governments was never some kind of benevolent gift from Columbus. The Local Government Fund dates back to the 1930s. It was instituted and increased over the years as the State eliminated local tax sources taking the income but promising to share it with local governments. The property tax rollbacks came with the Ohio income tax and its increase in the 1970s and 1980s. The State promised to share that additional revenue with localities to reduce local property taxes.
The past promises have been conveniently forgotten.
Ohio’s latest state surplus almost equals what was taken from the Local Government Fund.

Ed Fitzgerald