Balanced-budget law would help citizens
Published 12:37 pm Thursday, September 19, 2013
A proposed balanced-budget law for municipalities in Ohio sounds like a good idea that if already in place may have prevented current problems facing Warren, Niles and Girard. …
State Rep. Louis Terhar and State Auditor Dave Yost outlined the proposal during a news conference recently. Their idea is to force counties, cities and villages to spend based on their actual revenue rather than their projections, as is currently the practice.
The proposal, called the Financial Responsibility in Government Act, would also encourage rainy day funds and cap un-bonded debt. …
The proposed law forces elected officials in the communities to fix the shortfalls as they occur.
One issue that should be addressed in the proposal is how much money can be accumulated in enterprise funds, how large a general fund balance should be permitted and what restrictions should be placed on using carryovers to balance budgets. …
The proposed law calls for freezing state funds when communities overspend and releasing them when they get their budgets back on track. Addressing budget problems quickly with small adjustments should help prevent radical cuts later, such as the mass safety forces layoffs in Warren.
Warren Tribune Chronicle
Ohio senator leading way on key energy legislation
In an era of partisan gridlock, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Terrace Park) deserves credit for bringing long-overdue, bipartisan energy legislation to the Senate floor.
The Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC), co-sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), would strengthen building codes, promote industrial efficiency and require energy strategies for federal agencies that would save energy and money. It’s the first big piece of energy legislation to make it this far since 2007.
There is broad support for the bill, ranging from corporations to faith-based organizations to environmental groups. One opponent, the Heritage Foundation, argues that energy savings should be based on market forces, not legislation.
But the past has proven that sometimes the market needs a nudge. This bill could provide it.
The Cincinnati Enquirer