Some Ohio lawmakers look to public employment for budget cuts

Some Ohio lawmakers look to public employment for budget cuts

In looking at ways to balance what may be a $10 billion budget deficit, some Ohio lawmakers are taking a look at the salaries, wages and benefits of Ohio's public employees.

In a report by Jessica Alaimo in the Port Clinton News Herald on Christmas, "Ohio's next leaders have suggested the General

Assembly make substantial changes to the state's collective bargaining law, which allow public employees to organize and negotiate labor

contracts, and binding arbitration, when a neutral party settles labor disagreements with final rulings on pay and work rules.

"Republicans also want to enact changes within Ohio's five public pension systems."

The newspaper reports that two possible changes could include an end to "mandatory scheduled step or longevity increases based on years of service, which are awarded in addition to negotiated pay scale increases, and prohibiting public employers from paying an employee's personal pension contribution."

Ohio Gov.-elect has mentioned similar proposals in an effort to rein in state spending.

"We need to look at the costs associated with employment," Ohio Rep. Ron Amstutz, R-Wooster, who will chair the Ohio House Finance Committee next year, told the News Herald.

Amstutz said every option is on the table except raising taxes and he hopes all interested parties will contribute to the conversation.

According to the report, Mark Sanders, president of the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters, said labor has been left out of the conversations thus far. He characterized the early dialogue as "political grandstanding."

A Chamber of Commerce report cited by the newspaper maintains the collective bargaining and binding arbitration rules are a part of the problem with the growing budget deficit.

"Despite its rule-driven civil service and highly unionized workplaces, Ohio more than ever needs to create innovative solutions

to increasingly complex public policy issues. It needs a culture of innovation, not the rigid, sclerotic organizational structure and

culture of the past," the report said.

The chamber suggests drastic changes to the way public employees are hired, evaluated, promoted and compensated, including merit-based bonuses based on objective performance measures and eliminating automatic pay raises via steps and longevity pay.

In looking at ways to balance what may be a $10 billion budget deficit, some Ohio lawmakers are taking a look at the salaries, wages and benefits of Ohio's public employees.

In a report by Jessica Alaimo in the Port Clinton News Herald on Christmas, "Ohio's next leaders have suggested the General Assembly make substantial changes to the state's collective bargaining law, which allow public employees to organize and negotiate labor contracts, and binding arbitration, when a neutral party settles labor disagreements with final rulings on pay and work rules.

"Republicans also want to enact changes within Ohio's five public pension systems."

The newspaper reports that two possible changes could include an end to "mandatory scheduled step or longevity increases based on years of service, which are awarded in addition to negotiated pay scale increases, and prohibiting public employers from paying an employee's personal pension contribution."

Ohio Gov.-elect has mentioned similar proposals in an effort to rein in state spending.

"We need to look at the costs associated with employment," Ohio Rep. Ron Amstutz, R-Wooster, who will chair the Ohio House Finance Committee next year, told the News Herald.

Amstutz said every option is on the table except raising taxes and he hopes all interested parties will contribute to the conversation.

According to the report, Mark Sanders, president of the Ohio Association of Professional Firefighters, said labor has been left out of the conversations thus far. He characterized the early dialogue as "political grandstanding."

A Chamber of Commerce report cited by the newspaper maintains the collective bargaining and binding arbitration rules are a part of the problem with the growing budget deficit.

"Despite its rule-driven civil service and highly unionized workplaces, Ohio more than ever needs to create innovative solutions to increasingly complex public policy issues. It needs a culture of innovation, not the rigid, sclerotic organizational structure and culture of the past," the report said.

When 86th House District Rep. and State Sen.-elect David Daniels attended the Dec. 22 meeting of the Highland County Board of Commissioners, Commission President Shane Wilkin asked the lawmaker if additional cuts were being implemented on the county's state funding, if the commissioners might learn of the cuts "sooner, rather than later."
  Daniels said he would provide notice as soon as any decisions were made. He said it's possible the General Assembly may have an idea of what actions would be necessary by March of next year.
Daniels attended the meeting in order to present a House of Representatives commendation to outgoing commissioner Gary Heaton for his many years of community service. A reception will be held for Heaton on Dec. 29 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the commissioners' office.