The Buckeye Institute
Dear Friends,
By now you've heard that Ohio's revenues are falling short and state lawmakers have announced they need to cut $800 million from the budget. Given additional spending and revenue shortfalls, which we should anticipate, the legislature should actually be cutting $1 billion.
But don't worry, your Buckeye Institute has a solution... and it can be found in our famous 2017 Piglet Book! Today, we rolled out a series of recommendations policymakers could look at to save taxpayer dollars and cut the needed money.
Each day this week we will be sharing fun graphics on Facebook and Twitter highlighting our ideas, so make sure to check those out and share with your friends and followers!
In rolling out these recommendations, Robert Alt, our President and CEO, said:
"The reality is, Office of Budget and Management revenue estimates have been too optimistic and policymakers need to cut $1 billion from the proposed state budget. Cutting $1 billion will offset additional spending and revenue shortfalls, which we should anticipate. The good news is, Buckeye has a blueprint - our Piglet Book - that can guide the legislature as it looks for needed cuts."
So what are our recommendations you ask? Could one of you provide a drum roll please? They are:
Recommendation #1
Eliminate Funding to the Ohio Arts Council: Savings to Taxpayers: $25.9 Million
The Ohio Arts Council receives taxpayer monies through income and sales tax revenue, which is then distributed to specifically-selected artists and galleries. While the work on the Arts Council has value, the government should not be an arbiter of culture. Artistic and cultural endeavors can and should be underwritten by donors giving voluntarily rather than by government fiat.
Recommendation #2
Slow the Rate of Growth in Education Funding: Savings to Taxpayers: $208.7 Million
In FY16, Ohio spent $10.5 billion funding the Department of Education. In the FY18-19 budget, Governor John Kasich asked for $11.2 billion in FY18 and $11.4 billion in FY19 for a total of $22.6 billion. By slowing the rate of growth in education funding, Ohioans could save $208.7 million.
The Buckeye Institute recommends $11.1 billion in funding in FY18 (an increase of $527.4 million over FY16) and $11.3 billion in FY19 (an increase of $748.9 million).
On education funding, Greg Lawson, our Senior Policy Analyst, said:
"A quality education is about far more than simply throwing more money at the education bureaucracy. Simply slowing spending growth and shifting funding towards students rather than the 'system' can yield not only taxpayer savings, but-more importantly-better educational outcomes for our students. It is time to start moving in this direction."
Recommendation #3
Eliminate Funding to the Ohioana Library Association: Savings to Taxpayers: $595,228
While not a huge cost savings when compared to the budget killers of Medicaid and education funding, eliminating funding to private organizations, such as Ohioana Library adds up to real cost savings.
The Ohioana Library Association's work, while laudable, is not a core government service that requires taxpayer subsidies. As with the Ohio Arts Council, private individuals and the private sector should guide investment for this work.
Recommendation #4
Slow the Rate of Growth in Medicaid Funding: Savings to Taxpayers: $1.6 Billion
More than two decades ago then-Governor George Voinovich called Medicaid the Pac-Man of Ohio's budget. It remains so today, eating up more than 47 percent of Ohio tax dollars.
In FY16, Ohio spent $22.8 billion funding the Department of Medicaid. In the FY18-19 budget, Governor John Kasich asked for $25 billion in FY18 and $25.7 billion in FY19 for a total of $50.7 billion. By slowing the rate of growth, Ohioans could save $1.6 billion.
The Buckeye Institute recommends $24.1 billion in funding in FY18 (an increase of $1.4 billion over FY16) and $24.9 billion in FY19 (an increase of $2.1 billion).
Of Medicaid funding, Rea S. Hederman Jr., our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said:
"When Governor Kasich released his proposed budget, I previously said of Medicaid funding, 'Ohio continues to pick up additional financial burdens that will gobble up an increasing amount of state resources and crowd out other essential investments and priorities.' Revenue shortfalls have exacerbated that situation. It is time for Ohio to get serious about controlling Medicaid spending and implementing innovative proposals, such as using 1332 waivers to gain greater flexibility under Obamacare."
Recommendation #5
Eliminate Funding to the Ohio Grape Industries: Savings to Taxpayers: $2.4 Million
Ohioans pay to market Ohio wines through a five-cent tax on each bottle of wine, something wine producers should pay for themselves.
Taxpayers should not be expected to pay for corporate welfare of any kind, and the government should not favor one business or industry over another. If a company or industry makes a good product, people will buy it. The use of taxpayer money to support favored businesses is both ethically inappropriate and economically harmful.
These recommendations, along with others found in our Piglet Book, would save Ohio taxpayers $3.8 billion, more than quadruple the needed $800 million for which Governor Kasich and leaders in the Ohio House and Senate have called.
If you aren't already following us on social media, please check us out on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
And, as always, thank you for your continued support!
Founded in 1989, The Buckeye Institute is an independent research and educational institution - a think tank - whose mission is to advance free-market public policy in the states.
The Buckeye Institute is a non-partisan, nonprofit, and tax-exempt organization, as defined by section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code. As such, it relies on support from individuals, corporations, and foundations that share a commitment to individual liberty, free enterprise, personal responsibility, and limited government. The Buckeye Institute does not seek or accept government funding.
No comments:
Post a Comment