Cities & Villages, official magazine of the Ohio Municipal League
February 17, 2012
OHIO LEGISLATURE ADJOURNS FOR SHORT RECESS
The Ohio General Assembly wrapped-up work on several legislative issues this week, before taking a short break until after the Primary elections have been held. There were several issues dealing with municipal government that received attention with work set to continue on many other issues the League is following.
The Senate State, Local Government & Veteran Affairs committee voted-out and forwarded to the full Senate for their consideration HB158, legislation we have reported on that would limit community’s ability to safely manage and regulate through zoning authority the placement of amateur radio antennas. The committee adopted an amendment which we have posted the language HERE and then successfully voted to pass the bill out of committee. Although the committee approved the proposal, the vote was not unanimous with Senator Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) voting to not pass the bill on to the full Senate out of concerns that the bill continues to violate the Home Rule provisions of the Ohio Constitution. We want to thank Senator Lehner for her concerns for the violations the bill poses to Home Rule.
As we reported to you last week, the House State Government & Elections committee voted-out and forwarded on to the full House membership HB386, legislation sponsored by Representative Blessing (R-Cincinnati) which makes changes to Ohio’s gambling law. One of the changes that was amended into the bill last week would have required all 88 counties in Ohio that will be receiving revenue from Casino’s to spend 50% of the revenue on police, fire and EMS services countywide. Well, a funny thing happened on the way to the full House considering of the amended version of HB386, county officials objected to the legislature’s revenue sharing proposal and thus the language was taken-out of the bill and then passed by the Ohio House. The bill will now be assigned to a Senate committee for its consideration by the upper chamber. We hope our Senators will consider reinstating this initiative for our local governments to work together to solve the funding crisis of safety forces through-out the state.
Am.sub.HB50, the legislation currently being heard by the House Local Government committee which would severely interfere with TYPE-II Expedited annexation procedures, the most widely used annexation procedure available for private landowners and communities to manage land issues, did not receive a hearing this past week. The latest version of the bill that the committee is working off of is available on our website. We will be sure to announce any future schedule of hearings for this anti-annexation bill, by the committee.
Since reporting to you about our meeting last week with Representative Grossman, Representative Henne and other representatives of those interested in the legislative conversations taking place on the topic of municipal tax uniformity and the state creating a centralized collection for local tax revenues, there has not been any other meetings concerning this topic which the League has been invited to participate in. We want to thank all of those cities and villages that continue to pass Resolutions opposing any of these state-initiated plans that would interfere or compromise local government’s current revenues. We also thank very much those that are writing Letters to the Editor to their local newspapers sharing with their community what some of these “yet to be fully thought-out ideas” would mean to the funding of vital services in their communities. Please be sure to send to us and your individual member of the Ohio House of Representatives and State Senator copies of any action your councils have taken on these proposals or letters generated by their concerned constituents.
The General Assembly will be returning to the Statehouse the second week of March with a full plate of issues to address including the drafting of the Mid-Biennial Review (MBR), which is the title of the upcoming spring budget bill, from the Administration. We do not have the details of what will be included in the budget package, but have been working closely with the Office of Budget and Management on items we would like to see included for our municipalities.
ATTORNEY GENERAL DEWINE ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT VICTORY/BLIGHT ASSISTANCE
Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced this week that Ohio is part of a settlement of $25 billion, with Ohio’s share being $335 million, with five of the nation’s largest mortgage servicers over foreclosure abuses, fraud, and other unacceptable mortgage practices. From the State’s share of $335 million, $97 million will be distributed directly to the Attorney General’s office. Attorney General DeWine has further announced that his office will use their settlement funds to help cities and villages revitalize neighborhoods by tearing-down blighted properties, help with foreclosure prevention and assist Ohio families on the brink of foreclosure. The full press release by AG DeWine with statistics and other information about the settlement can be found HERE. The details related to the application process to be considered for funding and other distribution issues are yet to be fully developed. We will be sure to keep our members up to date as details emerge.
STATE LAUNCHES PUBLIC NOTICE WEBSITE
The Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) announced this week that the State Public Notice website is now up and live. The website will serve as a resource to comply with state law requiring local governments to publish public notices. We have attached the press release announcing the website HERE which will provide you with greater details and contact information for using the service. Please be aware that you must first create an account through the Ohio Business Gateway, before using or posting to the website.
