(The Center Square) – Ohio taxpayers could save more than $9 billion over the next two years if state lawmakers follow the recommendations of a Columbus-based policy group.
The Buckeye Institute released its traditional Piglet Book, a report examining Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed two-year, $218 billion state budget, offering billions in savings, and the number continues to grow.
Two years ago, the report identified nearly $3 billion in savings. In 2021, that number was $600 million.
This year’s Piglet Book outlines how policymakers can offer more than $9 billion in savings to Ohio taxpayers while still providing essential services,” Greg R. Lawson, research fellow at The Buckeye Institute and report author, said. “To help keep Ohio economically competitive, the General Assembly should aggressively prioritize cuts to public spending, curb Medicaid growth rates, close tax loopholes, eliminate corporate welfare, and end government ‘philanthropy.’”
The report advocates capping budget increases in all areas, including Medicaid, at 3.5% to save $6.7 billion. Another $2.25 billion could be saved by closing tax loopholes.
The group is also pushing to end what it calls corporate welfare, which includes $15 million to TourismOhio, another $8 million for small businesses and export assistance, $2.1 million for sports event grants, $36 million for research and development for private businesses and $2.4 million for the state’s wine industry.
“Governments should not be picking economic winners and losers by redistributing taxpayer dollars to businesses with persuasive lobbyists,” the report said.
The institute is also proposing ending what it calls government philanthropy and advocacy, eliminating more than $65 million in costs to taxpayers.
That area would include more than $55 million for the Ohio Arts Council, $621,000 to the Ohioana Library Association, $760,000 to county fairs, $3.1 million to the Ohio History Connection, $5 million for the Ohio Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial and another $500,000 to the New African Immigrants Commission.
“Taxpayer-funded ‘philanthropy’ forces governments to choose its own ‘worthy causes,’ deters genuine philanthropy by private donors, and risks louder calls for even more government spending to offset the reduced private giving,” the report said.
