Ted Strickland

Four Years of Balanced Budgets – Without a Tax Increase

One of Governor Strickland’s first actions in 2007 was to pass and sign a two-year balanced budget, without a tax increase. In 2009, he did it again, despite facing our nation’s worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. How’d he do it? By being determined to make state government live within its means and invest in what truly matters most.

As the economic crisis began, the governor made difficult decisions to reduce his original budget by more than $2 billion – eliminating more than 3,000 positions across state government.  With the help of his cabinet, he found ways to provide services to the people of Ohio more effectively and more efficiently. He did this while funding a property tax cut for all senior citizen homeowners in Ohio, a two-year tuition freeze at state colleges and universities, expanded child health care and increased investments in job creation and alternative energy.

This year, the governor did it again. He balanced the 2010/2011 budget and did it without tax increases. Just as importantly, the budget includes an unprecedented investment in reforming K-12 education in Ohio and making our colleges and universities among the best in the nation.  The budget also expands health care eligibility to an additional 109,000 Ohioans. Finally, the budget includes new job-creation tax credits and holds down tuition increases at state colleges and universities.