Gov. Kasich Proposes Income Tax, Sales Tax Cuts in Budget Plan

Check out this video from the governor’s office to learn more about the proposal.

Gov. John Kasich wants to cut income taxes for small businesses and individuals and lower the sales tax in Ohio’s 2014-2015 budget. “Ohio’s taxes are too high,” Kasich said in a video posted to his website. “They hold back job creators and hold back our economy. We need to fix that.” The Columbus Dispatch reports that while the sales tax would decrease from 5.5 percent to 5 percent under the plan, more services would be subject to the tax. Increasing what can be taxed would allow the government to actually bring in more money over time.  The Plain Dealer reports that this proposal includes the first tax rewrite since 2005.  Kasich’s education funding reform plan, which he introduced last week, plays a big part in his budget proposal. …

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Gov. Kasich Proposes Increasing School Funding, Lessening Mandates

The governor’s plan also includes funds for a special grant, designed to encourage schools to try new approaches to increasing achievement and decreasing cost.

Gov. John Kasich today unveiled his school funding reform plan, “Achievement Everywhere,” which aims to distribute funds fairly to districts and give principals more autonomy. The plan will be part of the governor’s overall 2014-15 budget proposal, which is expected to be released next week. Thursday’s proposal includes $1.2 billion in new money for schools during the next two years.  Kasich told reporters on a conference call Thursday afternoon that the additional money is possible because the state has cut costs in other areas and brought in new jobs, which increases the state’s overall revenue. He said his plan would be fully funded from the start, rather than phased in over time. Ohio’s school funding formula, which is based on …

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Failed Levy Could Mean No More Crossing Guards, Summer Concerts

Zilka says passage of levy is critical to avoid financial crisis.

Stressing the need to pass the Paramedic Levy in the November General Election, Avon Lake Mayor Greg Zilka outlined a list of potential cuts residents could see if the levy failed in November, including the elimination of crossing guards, Safety Town and several recreation programs. Zilka said in his State of the City address on Sept. 13 that despite significant cuts, the city will be thrown into a financial crisis if the levy fails.  “We looked at a scenario where the 2.0-mill levy goes down, and it is not good,” Zilka said in his speech. City leaders are reviewing programs that could be axed if the levy fails.  "Eliminating crossing guards will save $51,000," Zilka said. “What price do we put on child safety?” Zilka said in his address…

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In The Kitchen With Jodee

Chewy Granola Bars Make a Healthy Snack

Quick, easy and economical, these treats will delight your family.

When it comes to buying food, cereal and snack prices are on the rise. Even with coupons, it is harder than ever to find deals on healthy snacks like cereal and protein bars. This means if you are looking for healthy snack options that will leave extra money in your pocket, now is the time to start looking for simple, affordable snack bar recipes.  As far as snacks are concerned, protein and cereal bars have never been more popular. However, many so-called healthy snack bars contain more than a few unhealthy ingredients.  Many popular name-brand cereal and protein bars not only contain high amounts of preservatives, they also contain unhealthy sweeteners like high-fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup is the most commonly added …

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Avon Schools Face $1.6 Million Funding Cut in State Budget

Treasurer Kent Zeman thinks the district can absorb the losses without cuts or new levies for now.

Now that Gov. John Kasich’s two-year, $112 billion operating budget is in effect, the Avon City Schools will see at least $1.6 million in state funding losses over the next biennium. That’s the bad news.   The good news is that Avon schools treasurer Kent Zeman is betting the district can overcome the current seven-figure hit without introducing a new levy or reducing personnel.  That prediction stems, in part, from the 2.31 mill levy that was passed in May to boost revenue by $1.8 million per year through 2016.  Additionally, the district was poised to lose $2.2 million over the next two years, but thanks to an extra $841 million in tax revenue generated from 13 consecutive months of job growth, the Ohio Senate was able to offer some …

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Superintendent Says Budget Cuts Mean 10.5 Fewer Teachers in 2011-12

Kasich's budget cuts remain at $4.4 million for district

Ohio's two-year state budget approved June 30 didn’t provide any surprises to the Avon Lake School District. The net result, a $4.4 million annual cut, is the same as what the district was told in March. That isn’t necessarily good news for Avon Lake. Superintendent Bob Scott had held onto a slim hope that the state wouldn’t approve such steep cuts for what is perceived to be a “rich district.” “We’re hoping some sanity comes out of it,” Scott said in March. Now Scott is saying with the budget in place the school will have 10.5 fewer teachers next year. “Initially, we thought we needed six more teachers,” he said before the cuts were announced. “We hired none of those. After retirements, we’re just not hiring replacements. We’re only …

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James Thomas

10:57 am on Saturday, September 24, 2011

Fernand M., the Governor hasn't taken "millions of dollars out of our school district", that money just doesn't exist in this economy. No amount of democratic coffee can make it exist.   more ›

Sometimes Family Fun is Best on a Budget

Alicia Castelli finds you don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy the summer

In these tough economic times it’s incredibly difficult to find affordable things to do with the kids and still make summer vacation feel like something special. We went ahead and bought the family pool pass and signed the kids up for swimming lessons. We also splurged for a family membership to the Natural History Museum - mostly because it also gets us into COSI in Columbus. We’re less than a month into summer vacation and we’re already hearing some murmurs of discontent. Our kids have friends who aren’t in the same financial boat that we are. I am a full time student with a clinical rotation at local hospitals that precludes full-time work. That means one full-time paycheck which means we’ve learned to squeeze pennies until they beg for…

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Balancing Beleaguered State Budget Tops Lundy's Town Hall Agenda

State Representative Matt Lundy offers answers insights regarding state issues that will soon hit local level.

Ohio House State Representative Matt Lundy (D­-Elyria) spoke at the Avon Branch Library on Saturday to address the contentious and complex issues that have arisen as legislators close the funding gaps created by a $6.5 billion budget shortfall.  From deep cuts to cost-saving measures to one-time money opportunities, Lundy walked the audience through what’s going to be one of the more difficult times in the state’s history as Ohio slowly recovers from the Great Recession.  Last Thursday, the Ohio House approved a $55.6 billion budget plan that will now move to the state Senate for review.  In an attempt to erase the multibillion-dollar shortfall created by the drying up of federal stimulus funds and a sluggish economy, education will be cut…

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Avon Lake Superintendent Calls For Action Against Kasich Budget

No specifics yet on how projected $4.4 million annual deficit will affect school district.

Approximately 60 people showed up at an informational meeting April 19 to hear how Gov. John Kasich’s proposed cuts will affect the school district, and to hear a “call for action” from the district’s superintendent. Some audience members in the high school's Performing Arts Center questioned how the school would combat the cuts, however Superintendent Bob Scott and Board of Education president Chuck Froehlich opted not to discuss specifics or whether a levy would be required if the cuts went through. “This is an important discussion we need to have early in the process” Scott said before handing over the microphone to district treasurer Denise Holcomb, who went over “before” and “after” financial scenarios involving the governor’s two-…

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As Recession Eases, So Do Avon Lake’s Budget Woes

City's could erase $1.2 million deficit and balance $14.7 million budget by year's end.

Months ago, when planning began for Avon Lake's 2011 city budget, numbers pointed to a projected deficit of about $1.2 million in a $14.7 million budget. A similar deficit projected for 2010 was erased by last year’s end, with Mayor K.C. Zuber pointing to conservative spending and an uptick in income tax collection as major factors. And now, only three months into 2011, it appears as though this year’s projected budget could be a surplus by year’s end. Zuber said that the city has already collected $400,000 more in income tax revenue than 2010, with much of that attributed to increased production at Ford. “The March income tax numbers are in; we are $422,000 ahead of last year at this time in collections,” Zuber said. Those numbers bode …

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