Ohio state budget
From Sunshine Review
Ohio currently has no statewide, official spending database online. However, House Bill 420 would make this information available.
Contents |
News
Sign up for the www.showmethespending.org weekly transparency e-updates. As transparency news about Ohio becomes available, it will be sent out by email and posted here.
State budget websites and analysis
Ohio's budget history
The following table provides a history for California's budgeted and actual expenditures from the General Fund.
| Fiscal Year | General Fund Budgeted | General Fund Actual |
|---|---|---|
Recent difficulties
According to Governor Ted Strickland and Budget Director J. Pari Sabety, Ohio "is facing not only a budget deficit in our current fiscal year, but is projected to face an exceptionally large, more than $7 billion deficit in the upcoming 2010 – 2011 operating budget."[1] According to the Strickland Administration, 2009 and 2010 will witness the most serious erosion in revenues that has taken place in 40 years.[2] Strickland has appealed to President-Elect Obama for bailout money,[3] and is in favor of the auto-bailout,[4] since part of the car industry supply chain is located in Ohio.[5]
Helpful budget links
Legislation
Although no legislation is currently in place to create spending transparency, House Bill 420 will do so if it is adopted by the Senate and by Governor Ted Strickland.
Government tools
The following table is helpful in evaluating the level of transparency provided by a state spending and transparency database:
| State Database | Searchability | Grants | Contracts | Line Item Expenditures | Dept/Agency Budgets | Public Employee Salary | Exemption Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| None | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Limitations and Suggestions for Improvements
Support for creation of the database
Americans for Tax Reform State Government Affairs Manager Sandra Fabry submitted a statement in favor of Ohio House Bill 420.[6]
The National Taxpayers Union wrote a letter in favor of House Bill 420.[7]
Independent transparency sites
The Buckeye Institute has launched a website, www.ohiosunshine.org. According to the site,"Our mission is to serve as a convenient place where Ohio citizens and others with an interest in ensuring that government is open, honest and accountable may join together and work to ensure that government data is available to everyone. This includes government officials and offices at all levels that might find OhioSunshine.org a convenient place to post information that is commonly requested, thereby reducing their own burden while simultaneously easing the burden of citizens seeking information."[8]
Public employee salary information
Salary 2005 data on certain state employees is available here.
The Buckeye Institute has provided information on certain salaries received by Ohio State University employees. The database is available here.
External Links
- Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions
- Ohio Office of Budget and Management
- Ohio Executive Budget for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009
- Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions
References
- ↑ "Governor Discusses Impact of National Economic Deterioration on Ohio Budget," December 1, 2008
- ↑ Dayton Daily News, "State's budget deficit growing: For the first time, most Ohioans may make less money in 2009 than they did in past years," December 1, 2008
- ↑ The Columbus Dispatch, "Strickland to Obama: Ohio needs $5 billion," December 2, 2008
- ↑ Cleveland.com, "Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland pushes for federal bailout of auto industry," October 30, 2008
- ↑ Dayton Daily News, "State's budget deficit growing: For the first time, most Ohioans may make less money in 2009 than they did in past years," December 1, 2008
- ↑ Americans for Tax Reform, "Statement by Sandra Fabry," January 31, 2007
- ↑ National Taxpayers Union, "An Open Letter to the Ohio House of Representatives: Taxpayers Support Spending Transparency Web Site (HB 420)," March 7, 2008
- ↑ www.ohiosunshine.org "Mission Statement"
| |||||||
