Programs & Priorities

Financing Ohio's Future: Human Services in Tough Times

Statewide tour looks back, forward to 2012-2013 state budget

Over the next several months, The Center for Community Solutions will hold a series of workshops around Ohio to provide a technical perspective on state budget and revenue issues.  The initial workshops will be held in the eight major urban areas of Ohio and in Athens.  After the first of the year, the program will be extended to all of the 80 remaining counties.

The workshops will take a look back at the SFY 2010-2011 budget and identify systems that are most under stress as a result of decisions made during the process.  However, more important will be the presentations on maintaining human service and education spending in a recession, the results of tax reform (2005) and its effect on revenues, revenue increases from fees and gambling, and the long-term structural deficit and reliance on one-time revenues and their impact on the SFY 2012-2013 state budget.

From these presentations, tough decisions facing Ohio decision makers will be identified.  Participants also will be given training in strategic advocacy to affect these decisions.  Health and social service providers and advocates, public policy directors, funders, county employees, public officials, and anyone desiring a better understanding of the state budget are invited and encouraged to attend. There is no charge for the workshops. They are supported by funders of Community Solutions and local partnerships.