State of Ohio’s Budget as PowerPoint

Today the Office of Budget and Management released the Fiscal Years 2010-11 Executive Budget Proposal.  You can find all you ever wanted to know about this proposal here.

If you want to go straight to 100 slides worth of PowerPoint CLICK HERE.

Ohio Sunday Papers – February 1, 2009 – A Lot of Ohio Education Debate

• PNC Bank considered less stable after National City purchase – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: ACT for Ohio – Akron Beacon Journal
• Editorial: Reshaping Ohio’s Schools – Toledo Blade
• Op-Ed, Dennis Willard: No Money to Back Up School Plan – Akron Beacon Journal
• Op-Ed, Michael Douglas: Flaws and all, Strickland’s plan good start – Akron Beacon Journal
• All day kindergarten reflects expectations – Dayton Daily News
• Officials: All Day K costly – Dayton Daily News
• Stakes high for Strickland – Dayton Daily News
• Strickland’s plan could help district retain teachers – Dayton Daily News
• Is Education Strickland’s ‘Afghanistan?’ – Dayton Daily News
• Will Strickland’s longer school year fly? – Toledo Blade
• Longer school year worries Ohio’s tourism industry – Associated Press
• LaTourette’s lobbyist wife’s clients – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Closer look at Ohio lobbyists – The Plain Dealer
• Husted takes second job with Dayton Chamber – Columbus Dispatch
• Op-Ed, Aaron Marshall: Strickland Boxes Himself In – The Plain Dealer
• Op-Ed, Jonathan Riskind: Boehner can have impact – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: What does it take to grow NCR here? – Dayton Daily News
• More nepotism from Cuyahoga Sherrif – The Plain Dealer
• Non-profit social service groups plight in this economy – Columbus Dispatch
• Property flipping scam bled $30 million from investors – Columbus Dispatch
• Truckers want uniform speed limit in Ohio – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: PD’s goals for Cleveland – 2009 – The Plain Dealer
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Ohio Sunday Papers | January 18, 2009 | Ohio Tuskegee Airman, Kevin Boyce, Casinos, Strickland, Ohio Economy, Cuyahoga Corruption, Fingerhut, OCSEA, Hobson, Voinovich, Taxes

• Toledo Tuskegee Airman savors inauguration – Toledo Blade
• State Treasurer fought obstacles on way to success – Dayton Daily News
• Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: Don’t bet on Casino cure for budget woes – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Don’t just give it away – Columbus Dispatch
• Op-Ed, Joe Hallett: Voinovich look back – Columbus Dispatch
• Op-Ed, Dennis Willard: Tax Overhaul Needs Revisit - Akron Beacon Journal
• Demise of big city Republicans hurts GOP – Dayton Daily News
• Valley car dealers keep close watch on economy – Youngstown Vindicator
• Strickland working through clemency decisions – Columbus Dispatch
• Dark days for retail – Columbus Dispatch
• Prisons, drugs: A daily war – Columbus Dispatch
• FBI looking at Cleveland suburb – Associated Press
• Hobson to join Vorys, Sater – Columbus Dispatch
• U.S. Supreme Court to review Ohio case – Columbus Dispatch
• $1 billion in worker givebacks sought by state – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: Fingerhut clear about higher-ed priorities – Youngstown Vindicator
• State employees stunned by concession requests – The Plain Dealer

State of Ohio Workers’ Major Union Asked for Big Concessions

The state is currently in negotiations with its largest bargaining unit, the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA).  The state and union are trying to hammer out the agreement under which they will tolerate one another for the next three years.  The OCSEA isn’t happy right at the moment.

The Dayton Daily News broke the first big news of current contract negotiations this afternoon when they got hold of a bargaining update issued to OCSEA members.  The update said that the state was asking for, in union parlance, 18 ‘givebacks’ to help the state close its budget hole and avoid laying off many more workers.  Some of the concessions being sought from the state include:

• 5% pay cut
• 35 hour work week
• mandatory days off without pay
• elimination of personal leave, holiday pay and other benefit premiums
• elimination of longevity pay

A couple of things are actually pretty good ideas.  Right now, state workers get a boost in their pay at certain time increments for merely hanging on.  This is pay that has nothing to do with performance.  “Seniority” may be fine when judging who gets first dibs on the cubicle by the window, but longevity pay should have some performance strings attached or go by the boards.

Read more

Ohio Newsbreak – January 14 – Winter Weather Ohio-Style, Pimp Daddy, Gamboling to Gambling, Traficant

• Governor softens a bit on gambling – Columbus Dispatch
• Speaker: Gambling may have its place – Columbus Dispatch
• Will Republicans Rebuild in 2009? – The Plain Dealer
• Portman wants U.S. Senate seat – Dayton Daily News
• Voinovich on Geithner – Pay your taxes – The Plain Dealer
• Dayton officials going to Washington with tin cup – Dayton Daily News
• Toll hike for truckers modest: Pike Chief – Toledo Blade
• House votes to expand SCHIP – The Plain Dealer
• Thousands added to Toledo Census count – Toledo Blade
• Traficant to skip early release – Columbus Dispatch
• Icy temps, snow grip Ohio – Columbus Dispatch
• How do they decide how to close school – Columbus Dispatch
• Battelle to add 200 jobs – Columbus Dispatch
• Capital Notes – Columbus Dispatch
• Brown staffer headed to White House – The Plain Dealer
• McFadden allegedly pimpin’ on Craig’s List – Dayton Daily News

Ohio Sunday Papers: January 11, 2009 – Education, Homebuilders, Gambling Debate, Salmonella, Ohio Legislature, UT, BGSU, Casinos, Budget Cuts

• Op-Ed, Dennis Willard: Economy easy to blame – Akron Beacon Journal
• Strickland cracks door on casinos – The Plain Dealer
• Gambling proponents to try again – Toledo Blade
• Editorial: That Gambling Itch – Akron Beacon Journal
• Casino backers not giving up in Ohio – Dayton Daily News
• Op-Ed: Time for casinos in Ohio – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Comity in the legislature – Toledo Blade
• Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: Auspicious beginning for Budish – The Plain Dealer
• New faces abound in local Statehouse delegation – Dayton Daily News
• Editorial: Ohio public universities and colleges need to cut to – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Ohio Supreme Court and Public Information – The Plain Dealer
• Op-Ed, Jonathan Riskind: Homebuilders want stimulus to help home buyers – Columbus Dispatch
• Salmonella prompts Ohio peanut butter recall – Associated Press
• UT, BGSU pledge more cooperation – Toledo Blade
• District leaders call 2008 turning point – Columbus Dispatch
• Nothing goes to waste – Columbus Dispatch
• Investors want tally of salvaged gold – Columbus Dispatch
• D.C. Dispatches – Columbus Dispatch
• Rehab effort no deal for city – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: One of the shuttles must rest in Dayton – Dayton Daily News
• Rep. Fudge committee assignments – The Plain Dealer
• Op-Ed, Aaron Marshall: Budish begins leaving mark – The Plain Dealer

Ohio Newsbreak – Jess Goode, Jenn Urban, Obama Stimulus, Ohio DYS, Paul Tipps, state budget, Voinovich, Finkbeiner

• Changes in Strickland communications team – Columbus Dispatch
• First Energy appeals PUCO rate rollback – The Plain Dealer
• Voinovich to unveil plans Sunday night - The Plain Dealer
• Is this Voinovich’s last term? – The Plain Dealer
• Op-Ed, Brent Larkin: Voinovich in 2010? – The Plain Dealer
• Will Obama put light rail back on track? – Columbus Dispatch
• Juvenile facilities to close - Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: Boehner, McConnel have shot at history – Dayton Daily News
• Ohio jobless fund to get loan – Columbus Dispatch
• Prosecutor seeks info from Cordray – Dayton Daily News
• Cordray forces 9 out of AG’s office – Columbus Dispatch
• New state treasurer, AG sworn in – Columbus Dispatch
• State Street Consultants – Columbus Dispatch
• Absentee balloting broke record – Columbus Dispatch
• State cuts take toll on little guys – Columbus Dispatch
• Harris calls for rainy day funds – Columbus Dispatch
• Cleveland mayor asks Obama for $730 million – The Plain Dealer
• Toledo city workers reject contract – Toledo Blade

Ohio Newsbreak – January 7, 2009: Budish, Jimmy Crum Dies, Blackwell’s Quest, Dannettes Reject Offer, Ohio Economy, Fingerhut warns on tuition

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• Ohio’s college tuition freeze in jeapoardy – Dayton Daily News
• Lobbyists prepare for another power shift – Columbus Business First
• Somebody wants to hit Blackwell without leaving fingerprints – National Review Online
• With big dreams, Budish takes over as Speaker – Columbus Dispatch
• Budish plans to work hard for cities – The Plain Dealer
• New Ohio House Speaker sworn in – Dayton Daily News
• Dems run House again – Toledo Blade
• Jimmy Crum passes – Columbus Dispatch
• Local credit scores sliding – Cincinnati Enquirer
• Editorial: Cuyahoga Sheriff likes nepotism – The Plain Dealer
• Blackwell talks about guns and Facebook – Dayton Daily News
• Blackwell states his case – The Plain Dealer
• Blackwell continues campaign for RNC – Columbus Dispatch
• Dann Women Reject Settlement – Columbus Dispatch
• Medical Mart realty co. asks for Federal bailout – The Plain Dealer
• Capital Notes – Columbus Dispatch
• Kids’ health insurance touted – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: Ohio Courts’ Secrecy – Columbus Dispatch
• OU Prof will be Obama’s photog – The Plain Dealer
• Climbing prices for rock salt - Toledo Blade

Ohio Newsbreak | January 2, 2009

• Weak economy means tough solutions says Strickland – Youngstown Vindicator
• Editorial: Tainted by Scandal – Toledo Blade
• Scenarios for gas prices in 2009 – The Plain Dealer
• State trims funding to municipalities – Columbus Dispatch
• Cleveland homicides down 25% in 2008 – The Plain Dealer
• Jackson pissed over Med Mart delays – The Plain Dealer
• Ohio Dems headed to Inauguration despite cost – The Plain Dealer
• Kaptur honored by The Nation – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Adieu, National City – The Plain Dealer
• Some officials forego all the pomp – Columbus Dispatch
• State anti-bias aide sent racist, sexist emails – Toledo Blade
• ODOT official golfed on the clock – Columbus Dispatch
• Gannon to leave Industrial Commission - Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: Tighten laws on campaign funds - Columbus Dispatch
• Gasoline prices up 31¢ in Dayton over last week – Dayton Daily News
• Editorial: Ohio has made unemployment compensation problem worse - Dayton Daily News
• Op-Ed, Bertram DeSouza: What does Tony Gutierrez know? - Youngstown Vindicator
• PNC completes takeover of National City – Canton Repository

State of Ohio Using All the Tools to Cut Costs

An article today in the New York Times highlights some of the things employers are doing to trim budgets around the edges in hopes of saving a few jobs during this recession.  The State of Ohio is rolling one of the measures out to its own workforce.

From the Times:

Even as layoffs are reaching historic levels, some employers have found an alternative to slashing their work force. They’re nipping and tucking it instead.

A growing number of employers, hoping to avoid or limit layoffs, are introducing four-day workweeks, unpaid vacations and voluntary or enforced furloughs, along with wage freezes, pension cuts and flexible work schedules. These employers are still cutting labor costs, but hanging onto the labor.

What the state of Ohio has begun in some state agencies, and will make available in most others, is the voluntary furlough.  Known by the dreaded euphemism, “Voluntary Savings Program,” the VSP is nothing more than a voluntary furlough.  A furlough of course is when an employer says, don’t come to work for a particular period of time, we’re not going to pay you, but when the time period is up – come on back, you’ll still have a job.  It’s unpaid time off.

At the state, employees who wish to take some unpaid time off will be able to choose to take a recurring time period off without pay – such as one week per month for a given period of time – or take blocks of time.  The voluntary furloughs are subject to management approval, although management is not able to steer employees to the program.  State managers will be using the ability to provide full customer service in their business units as a major determinant in approving voluntary furlough requests.

The state doesn’t have a great deal of experience with the program.  It’s been one of the tools in the box for some years, and was used to some effect at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources during hard budget times some years ago.

One bad thing about it is its name: Voluntary Savings Program.  This is just more government doublespeak.  Why not call it the “Voluntary Furlough Program?”  That’s exactly what it is.  When I see Voluntary Savings Program, I think deferred compensation or maybe the Christmas Club at the local state credit union.

Here’s hoping the VSP helps out on the budget front.  It certainly doesn’t do accomplish anything on the ’say what you mean front.’

Ohio Newsbreak – Lame Duck Bad Legislation, GM Supplier Cuts 100, Tom Winters, Road Salt, Credit Ratings, Ohiowood

• Ohio House votes to shorten early voting – Associated Press
• Fitch Lowers Ohio’s Credit Rating – Toledo Blade
• Tenneco to lay off 100 – Associated Press
• State to pay $7 million for controversial breath testers – Columbus Dispatch
• Statehouse Briefs – Columbus Dispatch
• Asst. AG Tom Winters Resigns – Columbus Dispatch
• Ohio may get $1.4 billion from feds for Medicaid – The Plain Dealer
• Lack of competition leads to higher road salt prices: ODOT – Columbus Dispatch
• Blackwell’s RNC bid gains steam - Washington Times
• Ohio governor, GOP split over filmmaker tax credit – Forbes
  

Ohio Sunday Papers – October 5, 2008

Elections & Politics News

• New Dispatch Poll: Obama lead widens – Columbus Dispatch
• Key to Ohio? Appalachia. – Cincinnati Enquirer
• Op-Ed, Joe Hallett: McCain’s MI departure makes it all the harder – Columbus Dispatch
• Endorsement: For Richard Cordray – Columbus Dispatch
• Endorsement: Cordray better choice for AG – The Plain Dealer
• Endorsement: No on Issue 6 – Columbus Dispatch
• Cordray says contract, contribution not linked – Dayton Daily News
• Many provisional ballots rejected; more help needed from poll workers – The Plain Dealer
• Many NE Ohio school districts to close on Election Day – The Plain Dealer
• Obama has Irish kin in Southern Ohio – The Plain Dealer
• Ohio’s payday lenders hope dimwits turn out on Election Day – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: VP Debate – Expectations Fulfilled – Toledo Blade
• McCain, Obama on the issues – Dayton Daily News
• Which party will benefit from early voting in Ohio? – Dayton Daily News
• Op-Ed, Jonathan Riskind: Space goes out on a limb for bailout – Columbus Dispatch
• Casino’s effects mixed for town in Michigan – Columbus Dispatch
• Jobs, cash hard to turn down – Columbus Dispatch

Other News

• Job seekers look for flicker of hope in dim economy – Dayton Daily News
• Everything going wrong than can – Dayton Daily News
• How fast is too fast? – Columbus Dispatch

Ohio News Roundup – October 1: Obama leading, McCain Complaining, Payday lenders, Brunner, Bailout, Sherrod Brown, Voinovich, Gov Approval Rating, Strickland establishes economic growth group

Presidential Politics and Election News

• Quinnipiac: Obama lead widens in Ohio, other states – Columbus Dispatch

• Race, unfamiliarity could defeat Obama in Southeast – Columbus Dispatch
• Ohio House battle taking shape – The Plain Dealer
• Kilroy attacks Stivers’ history as bank lobbyist – Columbus Dispatch
• Payday lenders: 200k more signatures – Columbus Dispatch
• McCain’s remarks at Capital U. spark bailout blow – Columbus Dispatch
• McCain interview with Dispatch on Bailout – Columbus Dispatch
• Endorsements: Celeste and others – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: PD slams Members who voted against bailout – The Plain Dealer
• Brunner backed by courts – The Plain Dealer
• McCain defends role in Bailout – Dayton Daily News

Other News

• Voinovich to vote for bailout, Brown undecided – Columbus Dispatch
• Strickland establishes economic growth group – Columbus Dispatch
• Poll: Strickland approval rating slips – WHIO-TV
• State budget cuts will affect county programs – Dayton Daily News
• Economic crisis yields many opinions – Columbus Dispatch
• New law benefits bankrupt Ohioans – Columbus Dispatch
• Capital Notes – Columbus Dispatch

Ohio News Roundup – Jobs for Cambridge, Sick Days Editorials, Light to be out, Ohio AG race,

Government, Politics, Economy

• Florida company buys Cambridge mental health facility – Zanesville Times-Recorder

This deal came about with the help of the Strickland Administration through the Department of Mental Health and the Department of Administrative Services. Earlier this year, budget cuts led to 128 state employees at the facility to lose their jobs. Oglethorpe, the new owner, is scheduled to hire 200 from the Cambridge area.

• Oglethorpe buys Cambridge facility – Akron Beacon Journal
• Hocking College prez to depart at end of school year – Columbus Dispatch
• No Dem candidate for prosecutor – Columbus Dispatch
• Ohio AG fundraising gap widens – Columbus Dispatch
• Cordray gets FOP endorsement – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Cordray winning fundraising race – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Ohio escapes the jobkillers – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Editorial: High bar for Tubbs’ successor – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Ohioans for Healthy Families avoids a headache – Akron Beacon Journal
• First month of Keno sales below expectations – Dayton Daily News
• Ohio delegates say McCain hit home run – Dayton Daily News
• Editorial: Strickland saves Ohio from Issue 4 – Canton Repository
• Editorial: Avoiding a ballot fight – Toledo Blade

Ohio News Update – Austria Plagiarizes, Boehner on Palin, OH Guard to LA, Grocery Tax No More, Dispatch RNC Coverage, Payday Lenders, Cordray

Austria accused of plagiarism in local paper – Dayton Daily News

Boehner: Palin Critics Elitist – Politico

Ohio Guard Sending 1,500 Troops to LA – Columbus Dispatch

Appeals Court throws out CAT tax for grocers – Dayton Daily News

Court Voids State Grocery Tax – Columbus Dispatch

Party is muted but Palin news isn’t – Columbus Dispatch

Cordray, Dann find little in common – Columbus Dispatch

Minnesotan fires up Ohio delegates – Columbus Dispatch

Corporate cruise able to double as storm fundraiser – Columbus Dispatch

Editorial: Lose it or pay – Columbus Dispatch

Ohio fills abandoned mines to avoid collapses – Cleveland Plain Dealer

Payday lending issue step closer to ballot – Dayton Daily News