About 20 residents from Athens County and surrounding areas gathered yesterday to voice their grievances about Gov. John Kasich’s proposed budget — one they claim could severely cut human and governmental services in Southeast Ohio.
Members of Athens County Job and Family Services, One Ohio Now and Policy Matters Ohio led the budget roundtable discussion yesterday at the Athens Community Center, 701 E. State St. The discussion focused on calling state legislatures to increase taxes instead of cutting services.
With his proposal, Kasich is trying to fix the $8 billion shortfall in Ohio’s 2012-13 fiscal year budget.
Jack Frech, executive director of Job and Family Services, urged those in attendance to write their respective legislators suggesting tax increases for the wealthy as opposed to cuts in services for the poor.
The department stands to lose $2 million of its $11 million state budget if Kasich’s budget is approved. In the last three years, its budget has been reduced by $3 million, forcing administrators to cut programs such as dental care and teen pregnancy prevention, said Nick Claussen, spokesman for the department.
“Tax cuts help people (who are) already well off in the first place. We have to increase taxes on the rich to offset the cuts in programs to help those in need,” Frech said.
Frech cited Ohio’s 2005 tax reform as part of the problem. The reform cut taxes 1.5 percent for individuals with incomes over $200,000 while it only cut taxes 1 percent for those earning $40,000.
In Athens County, only 250 people make more than $200,000 per year, Frech added.
Bob Caldwell, superintendent for Wolf Creek Local schools presented about budgetary concerns facing area schools. Other groups in attendance voicing their concerns were Athens County Children Services and Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action.
Ohioans are struggling because state agencies cannot provide the resources they once could, said Doug Stanley, executive director of the regional community action group.
“We’re trying to hit a moving target that keeps moving away,” Stanley said.
One Ohio Now is a coalition calling for human and government service related organizations to work together to get as much money from the state as possible, said Andrea Fejes, organization coordinator.
“We are facing hard times in Ohio and families need more but resources are declining,” she said.
as218907@ohiou.edu
@ThePostCity
