The Ohio Municipal League hosted a round table discussion on Thursday, January 19, 2012, at the Columbus Bar Association, in Columbus, Ohio.
The governor discussed with us a variety of issues including preserving local revenue services, i.e. protecting and preserving revenue generated by the municipal income tax; opposition to centralized collection plans and uniformity issues that will threaten current and future revenue; also Property Tax and implications of HB 290 by the 111th Ohio General Assembly, legislation enacted in 1976 which statutorily freezes revenue levels.
Also discussed was areas of local control, economic development (partnerships, relaxed annexation procedures and townships as impediments. Prevailing Wage-raise limits, employer contributions to pension systems, restoring the local Government Fund and foreclosed and/or abandoned housing.
Specifically I discussed two issues with the Governor. First was the success in shutting down the pill mills in Scioto County. He was happy as am I, that the great coordination between local law enforcement, health department and local citizens all played in winning what is a continuing battle against drug trafficing in our area.
I also asked him about the efforts of his administration in getting the loan guarantee from the Obama Administration for construction and development of the Piketon atomic plant facility. He told me that he had spent much time during his meeting with the President this summer discussing the loan guarantee, that Senators Portman and Brown have also talked with the President, but that he simply didnt know why it was being held up.
The governor stressed the importance of the future of the Piketon site in economic development for our area and that other ideas for development were also being considered.
Although as most of you know, the governor and I dont see eye-to-eye on many issues, I do respect the time he gave all of us, on an individual basis, to discuss our local area problems. It was an important meeting and my thanks goes to both Governor Kasich for attending and Susan Cave, the Executive Director of the Ohio Municipal League, for coordinating the meeting.
Mike Payton
1-20-2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
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