OML UPDATE AT-A-GLANCE

 

Here are the top three things you need to know from this week:

 

CALL TO ACTION: PROPOSED MUNI TAX CHANGE FURHTER ASSULT ON LOCAL REVENUES

An amendment exempting Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) from municipal income tax is being considered for HB 69 before the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

As many of you will recall, SERP exemptions were excluded from HB 5 on the basis that pending court cases would rule on whether or not municipalities could tax SERPs within the municipal income tax. The proposed amendment violates that agreement. This is because the court cases in questions ruled the treatment of SERPs regarding municipal income taxation. The language in the amendment extend municipal tax exemptions far beyond non-qualified SERP plans.

The amendment language extends the exemption to "defined contribution" plans such as IRAs, profit-sharing plans, stock bonus plans, money purchase plans and benefit plans. Clearly, the amendment language is sheltering millions of dollars from municipal taxation that are not SERP dollars.

This is a continuation of the erosion of local government revenue sources that cripple the ability of our municipalities to provide safety and sustainable services to Ohio citizens.

It is imperative you call your Senator immediately and express your opposition to this proposed amendment, which will be considered before the Senate Ways and Means Committee this Wednesday. The Senate must be informed that the language extends far beyond SERPs. If you are able, we ask that you come testify before the committee in opposition to this amendment. If you are interested in testifying, please contact the League's Director of Communications Ashley Brewster at abrewster@omlohio.org or 614-221-4349 ext. 15.

 

BILL EASING ADMINISTRATIVE BUDEN ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS PASSES OUT OF COMMITTEE

HB 391 The bill, sponsored by Rep. Greenspan (R -Westlake) would increase the time within which boards of revision must decide property tax complaints. The original bill increased the timeframe from 90 calendar days to 90 business days, except for larger counties. Those were given a 180 business-day timeframe. During previous committee hearings, the bill was amended to extend that 180 business day timeframe to all counties, large and small. During its fourth hearing in the House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee, the bill was passed unanimously out of committee.

Kent Scarrett, the League's Executive Director, submitted written testimony in support of the bill, part of which reads, "It is important that we ensure local governments can process these complaints fairly and accurately increasing the timeframe to 180 days gives those governing bodies adequate time to properly assess and decide complaints, rather than rushing through them in an attempt to avoid pileups or delays." You can read the testimony in its entirety HERE.

 

HUSTED SPEAKS AT OML BOARD MEETING

Last week, just days after he announced he was dropping his bid for governor and would run as Mike DeWine's Lt. Governor, Secretary of State Jon Husted came and spoke at last week's OML Board Meeting. Secretary Husted spoke to the largest issues facing Ohio and explained that he and Attorney General DeWine see eye-to-eye on how to approach those challenges. Both candidates, he explained, decided they could be more effective in fighting for Ohio if they ran together.

Secretary Husted addressed Ohio's growing opioid epidemic, particularly how it relates to Ohio's workforce. While traveling around the state, he's spoken with more than one factory who wants to employ more people, but most candidates cannot pass a drug test. Husted also took questions from the Board, acknowledging the need for a stronger, healthier partnership between the State and its municipalities. We appreciate Secretary Husted's time and we thank him for hearing our Board's concerns and addressing many of our most important issues.

 

COMMITTEE RECAP FOR THIS WEEK: BILLS OF MUNICIPAL INTEREST

The following bills impacting municipalities received hearings this past week:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEW LEGISLATION OF MUNICIPAL INTEREST INTRODUCED

Here are the bills impacting municipalities that were introduced this week:

 

 

STAN UMPLEBY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM OML

Longtime OML Field Representative Stan Umpleby announced last Friday that he will be retiring. Mr. Umpleby brought years of municipal experience to the League.  He served for 2 years as the mayor of Brunswick, and served a total of 8 years on Brunswick city council. Before his election to municipal service, he had been a state highway patrolman. We appreciate all Stan has done for the League over the years, and we wish him all the best in retirement!