Lawmakers Slow To Tackle Future Budget Woes
Ohio’s budget deficit could be as high as $8 billion in the coming year, but the panel formed to find solutions to the state’s budget woes has yet to meet, nearly a year after forming.
Three Democrats and three Republicans make up the state’s Budget Planning and Management Commission. Senate Republicans have attempted to force the group to meet six times before year’s end. House Democrats have agreed only to one meeting next month.
Catherine Turcer, director of the Money and Politics Project for the grassroots group Ohio Citizen Action, said the upcoming election is leading to the delay.
“It all comes down to politics. Nobody wants to have a conversation about the fact that we may actually need to raise taxes. Nobody wants to have a conversation about what cuts would mean. We’re talking about $8 billion.“
The $8 billion deficit is expected for the 2012-2013 biennium budget that begins July 1, 2011.
