Recently the Ohio Budget Planning and Management Commission commissioned a new website, https://bpmc.legislature.state.oh.us. The Budget Planning and Management Commission is made up of six Ohio Senators and Representatives and administered by their existing staff. It was created in July of 2009 by the state biennial budget bill, House Bill 1, to examine Ohio’s expected budget shortfall and to make recommendations as to what could be done. The committee finally began meeting roughly a year after its creation but has not yet released any recommendations. Rather their website will allow viewers to create a username and password and then submit a proposed state budget of their own design.
After creating a user name and password viewers verify their registration through their email and then are able to log in to send their budget proposal. I believe this is a great opportunity for Ohio citizens to get more involved in their state government. While submitting a complete budget proposal would be a daunting task that no one person is likely able to accomplish I would encourage readers to send in suggestions on an area with which they have experience or knowledge.
For those who are interested in learning more about the Ohio’s budget I would also encourage you to visit the website of the Ohio Legislative Service Commission. This non-partisan arm of the Ohio General Assembly is relied on by legislators from both sides of the aisle for research, legislative drafting, and for their general knowledge of state government. Once you reach their website, select the link to “Budget Bills and Related Documents” and you will have access to a plethora of information on the state operating budget.
One potential question that arises out of this new opportunity for Ohio citizens is “My government has never asked for my input in this way on the budget before so why ask now?” This is a legitimate question and the reason is that Ohio used $8.4 billion in one time funds in our current budget. This is money that, by and large, came from the federal government or the state rainy day fund and is not supported by state taxes or fees that would replenish the funds for the next budget and will have to be replaced by tax increases or spending cuts. Each state budget uses some one time funds, but never to the extent that they have been pressed into service in our current budget. K-12 education, public colleges and universities, human services, and our prison system consume over 93% of all state and federal money in the General Revenue Fund (GRF). Add on top of this the fact that state and federal GRF were down 9.9% in 2010 from their 2009 levels and they are not expected to recover to even the 2009 level in 2011 and you quickly see why the Budget Planning and Management Commission is requesting citizen input.
While organizing a full state budget is the job of the Governor and General Assembly I would encourage readers to submit information on where they see their state government able to operate more frugally. As all submissions are public record please do not include any sensitive personal information. I have already received recommendations about how food stamps could be improved and the cost of public childcare could be reduced, in both cases without reducing the benefits to the families involved. No one knows exactly what the future state budget will hold, but I am pleased that the Budget Planning and Management Commission is finally beginning to examine our upcoming budget deficit.
As always, I welcome your questions, comments and input on state government issues. Please feel free to contact me by mail (State Representative Jay Hottinger, 71st House District, 77 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215), by email (district71@ohr.state.oh.us) or by phone (614-466-1482).