The article noted below just confirms my belief that Republican Gov. John Kasich is out of touch with the people in Ohio and reality. Now he is dictating what local governments can do and suggesting that consolidation of local governments would be better. This is Kasich's way to grab power, and deprive people the right to vote for their own leaders.
Dispatch:
...In perhaps his strongest message yet to mayors, county commissioners and school boards, Kasich challenged local leaders to avoid raising taxes to cope with cuts in state funding....
...Kasich's budget calls for 25percent reductions in local-government funding in both 2012 and 2013, plus deeper reductions in aid replacing tangible personal-property taxes, totaling $638million....
....As the governor did last week while unveiling his $55.5 billion budget proposal, he hinted of support for future local-government consolidations but declined to discuss specifics. He said he will ask a Republican and a Democrat to form a commission studying the possible benefits of government consolidations in Ohio....
This kind of talk should shock every Ohioan. In consolidating local governments, Kasich is making decisions that will change the future of every person in the state. So far, Kasich has planted his own people on the state school board, removed the state education superintendent, is attempting to remove collective bargaining for state workers and teachers/firefighters/police/nurses, change the prevailing wage law, wants to sale off state prisons, lease the turnpike, drill in our parks, remove funding for programs that help students at risk, throw grandma out of the nursing home, take money from programs that help the poor, etc., etc., etc. This agenda is a radical plan to remove power from the people.
I don't know about you, but we like the city and county services that we enjoy. Here in Worthington, we have excellent schools, great teachers, superior police and firefighters with immediate response, snow removal, meticulous city gardens, a wonderful first class library, a state of the arts community center, a terrific senior center, excellent street maintenance, etc., etc. I'm not willing to settle for something less just because Kasich said local governments cannot raise local taxes. That is not his decision to make. The people who live in these communities have the right to choose to raise taxes or choose to reduce services.
* Today's rally downtown Columbus for the charter schools industry happens every year, but now they have a governor who wants to reward their corporate owners who are regular Republican campaign contributors. Instead of spending all that money on bringing their students downtown for the rally, perhaps they could have spent the money on safety fixes in their buildings or paying their teachers more than the minimum wage.
* One more thing.....
Why is John Kasich trying to make the state retirement funds insolvent? Does he want to support all of the state workers from his own personal wealth? Public workers in Ohio do not have Social Security, we only have our retirement funds that we contributed to over the years. If Kasich risks the future of those funds, tens of thousands of people in Ohio will be homeless. For an interesting take on this controversy, check out Plunderbund.