In 2001, the State of Ohio illegally diverted $60 million intended for low-income families in counties across Ohio into its general revenue fund to balance the budget.
Cuyahoga County, located in northeast Ohio, filed a lawsuit against the state later that year. Though the county won the case, it lost about $100 million in funding since 2001, while Athens County lost $9 million because of the diversion of funds.
We did all kinds of things to help schools for one year
then the state took $9 million from us and used it to balance the budget said Bill Theisen, Athens County Commissioner president.
To help Cuyahoga County with the lawsuit, the Athens County Commissioners wrote a letter to Gov. Bob Taft urging him to drop the appeal.
The Cuyahoga County Commissioners wrote us a letter and told us the courts had ruled in their favor Theisen said. They asked us (and all Ohio counties) to assist them in several ways. Due to our financial situation
we have not been able to help them with the costs
but we did urge Gov. Taft to not file an appeal.
According to a letter from the Cuyahoga County Commissioners to the Athens County Commissioners dated April 16, 2004, Appeals Court Judge David Matia ordered the State of Ohio to return $60 million to its social services fund to be distributed to all 88 counties, or used for social services programs at the state level.
Cuyahoga County commissioner Peter Lawson Jones said the county decided to file the lawsuit against the State of Ohio because somebody had to do it.
We had to protect the interest of Cuyahoga County residents and protect all low-income Ohioans
he said.
Cuyahoga County has currently been paying the court expenses out of its general fund.
We've spent about $250
000 on the original case; now that it's being appealed by the state we have a maximum of $60
000 to defend the position of the court of appeals
Lawson said. In our estimate it used to help us move welfare roles to job roles. It provided training
transportation for low-income families.
The loss of funding affected Athens County in several ways.
Department of Jobs and Family Services Director Jack Frech said the department had a few special projects with the schools that had to be shut down once the county lost the $9 million.
We provided social workers
school nurses to eradicate the lice issue
