2 Lucas County officials denounce Kasich's budget

2/22/2013

Two prominent Lucas County elected officials - both Democrats - denounced Republican John Kasich's recently unveiled budget and his State of the State address as a handout for the wealthy and a hardship for everyone else.

Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez and Treasurer Wade Kapszukiewicz, speaking at a news conference today at Lucas County Democratic Party headquarters, said the governor's proposed budget would represent a tax increase for middle class and working class Ohioans when the expanded sales tax is taken into account, and leaves less money for local schools and local government services.

The governor has proposed a broad expansion of the sales tax base to include many untaxed services and an increase in taxes paid by a burgeoning shale oil and natural gas industry. That would help to underwrite a 20 percent income tax cut for individuals over three years and a 50 percent cut for small businesses. The Republican governor also would lower the state share of the sales-tax half a penny to 5 cents on the dollar.

The governor gave his State of the State address Tuesday in Lima.

Mr. Kasich has portrayed the services that will be newly taxed as typically affecting more affluent Ohioans.