Rep's Corner

Summer in Northwest Ohio, there's nothing like it. Picnics in our vast array of Metroparks, swimming, boating and fishing in Lake Erie to hotdogs at the Mudhens' stadium. As a legislator, I too enjoy the summer splendor, but it is also a time of reflection on the past six months of work at the Statehouse. In these six months, we, the 123rd General Assembly, have had success in passing some very important legislation that will have a positive impact on the lives of Lucas County residents for years to come.

Among the accomplishments is Senate Bill 192, which distributes funds from the national tobacco settlement. This legislation will provide $2.5 billion for Ohio school construction over the next 12 years as well as a 26-year revenue stream for school construction. In addition, the legislation establishes eight funds aimed at preventing tobacco use, helping smokers stop smoking, improving law enforcement, developing communities, increasing biomedical research and technology, and improving educational facilities and technology.

Another one of our accomplishments is Senate Bill 272, legislation that permanently sets aside school facilities moneys for school districts with exceptional needs, and phases-in an increased number of school districts that annually may participate in the School Building Assistance Expedited Local Partnership Program.

To enable university employees to take an equity position in business resulting from their research, we passed Senate Bill 286. This legislation, known as the Faculty Entrepreneurship and Intellectual Property bill, would assist in recruiting outstanding faculty to Ohio.

But we did not stop with education, because while Ohio needs educated citizens, we recognize that our citizens care about their quality of life. This is why we passed legislation that would finance investments for revitalizing urban areas and conserving recreational areas of the state. House Joint Resolution 15, the Conservation and Revitalization Fund, is subject to approval by Ohio voters on the November ballot.

The legislation calls for a total of $400 million in grants or loans for community-based projects over the next four years, with continuing investments as bonds are retired and loans are repaid. Of this total, $200 million would be allocated for the environmental clean-up of abandoned or underutilized contaminated sites and other urban revitalization initiatives. The other $200 million would be directed to locally driven efforts to preserve farmland, river corridors, wetlands and other natural areas and to expand recreational trails in Ohio.

Also approved this spring was the Capital Budget, providing $1.8 billion in state money for education and community projects over the next two years. More than $600 million will be directed for primary and secondary school facilities and approximately $530 million for higher education facilities. We were also able to secure over $37 million for Lucas County, which will help fund projects such as the Toledo Museum of Art improvements and the Sylvania Senior/Recreation Center. Even with this spending, current estimates show that Ohioans will benefit from an approximate 6.5% reduction in their taxes through the state's Income Tax Reduction Fund.

And how can we too enjoy Ohio’s exceptional quality of life if we are unfairly burdened by onerous taxes? In an effort to relieve Ohioans from burdens of the Ohio Estate Tax, the legislature approved a bill that will increase the estate tax credit in two steps over two years, exemption all estates with a taxable value below $338,000 by 2002. This would exempt 78 percent of estates currently taxable.

As Ohio citizens representing our constituents, we try to pass common-sense legislation helpful to all Ohioans. I’ve talked about only a small portion of the broad range of bills that I am proud to have supported. These legislative proposals will have a positive impact on our community and will improve the quality of life for all citizens.

May you enjoy the last half of your summer with your families and take advantage of all the activities our area has to offer.


Back to Reps Corner

© Copyright 2008 State Representative Lynn Olman. All rights reserved.