Update
from Josh Mandel, Ohio State Auditor...
Making Progress on
Elimination of the Estate Tax;
Creating a More Business-Friendly
Environment in Ohio
Hope all’s well. Just wanted to give you an update on some of the
positive changes taking place in the halls of our state government…
We have been focused on repealing unfair taxes and regulations to
improve our business climate, bringing fiscal responsibility to state
finances, and increasing educational opportunities and school choice
for families and students. Here are a few examples:
Significant Step Forward for Eliminating the Estate Tax: Last week the
Ohio House passed legislation to eliminate the estate tax (aka the
“death tax”). This is an action for which I have advocated since
I set foot in the Statehouse over fours years ago, and it brings us
closer to an important step forward for taxpayers and our
economy. This unfair tax has forced citizens of various
socio-economic classes to sell their long-time family homes, liquidate
their family businesses and get rid of their family farms – just to pay
death taxes on assets that have already been taxed repeatedly over the
years.
It has caused many small business owners, farmers and middle-class
retirees to flee Ohio in their golden years, making places like Naples
and Palm Beach second capitals of Ohio. Eliminating the death tax
once-and-for-all will be a good start toward making Ohio more
competitive with our neighbors, and towards reversing the exodus of
financial and intellectual capital from our state. The next step
is to encourage folks in the Ohio Senate to support the elimination of
this destructive tax.
Ohio House Budget Reduces Spending by $3 Billion: The budget bill
passed by the Ohio House last week reduces spending by $3 billion from
the current fiscal year to the upcoming fiscal year. There
is belt-tightening occurring throughout state government, including in
the Treasurer’s Office. My office is reducing general revenue
fund operating expenses and is striving to increase efficiencies in
every division. At a time when Ohio families and businesses are
doing more with less, all levels of government must do the same.
Teach for America Program Headed to Ohio; Budget Expands School Choice:
Recently, the Governor signed a bill to finally bring the “Teach for
America” program to Ohio, which will help to retain homegrown talent in
our state. The bill allows recent college graduates and Ohioans
with real world experience to teach in Ohio school districts. The
program is expected to increase innovation and benefit schools that
often times have a more difficult time attracting high-quality
teachers. Separately, the budget bill increases funding for
vouchers and aims to increase student access to charter schools, so
parents have more options to maximize the discipline, safety and
academic environment for their children.
Business-Friendly Budget Provisions Will Help Improve Economic Climate:
The House budget passed last week continues our push to make government
more limited and get bureaucrats out of the way of small businesses who
are working to grow and create jobs. The budget seeks to
establish an environment for economic growth. Additionally, the
establishment of a Small Business Advisory Council to conduct a common
sense and thorough review of state rules and regulations is underway,
with the mission of furthering a business climate that’s conducive to
economic growth and new job creation.
These are just a few highlights of the progress that is currently
underway to improve Ohio. As always, please contact me if there’s
ever anything I can do to be of assistance.
Take care,
Josh
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