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State Budget:
2008 Archive
Your source on political action, voter info & legislation
Natural resources activists on Earth Day to lobby legislators
April 10, 2008 - Union leaders from the OCSEA / Ohio Department of Natural Resources Assembly are inviting all OCSEA members to participate in a Lobby Day sponsored by the Ohio Environmental Council on Tuesday, April 22, at the YWCA and Statehouse in downtown Columbus. FULL STORY
Bush administration to fund employment services at -100% (yeah, that's ZERO)
March 12, 2008 - Once again federal Employment Services funding is at risk. Except this time—instead of chiseling away at the funding like they have for years—the Bush Administration has recommended just not funding these services at all. FULL STORY
Agency budget squeeze prompts assembly leaders' plea for help
March 4, 2008 - The State of Ohio's budget sqeeze is on, but you can help to save your job at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The union's ODJFS Assembly
is requesting your input
on ways to cut costs.
FULL STORY | EMAIL IDEAS | DOWNLOAD FLYER (PDF)
Urge legislators to stop psychiatric hospital closings
Feb. 27, 2008 - Over the last two days community stakeholders told the House Finance Committee that closing state psychiatric hospitals in Dayton and Cambridge is bad for patients, their families, and the community. FULL STORY | TAKE ACTION
Strickland's second State of State outlines plans for new veterans affairs agency, job stimulus package
Feb. 6, 2008 - In Gov. Ted Strickland's second State of the State Address he called for the creation of the Ohio Department of Veterans Affairs. This "Turn Around Ohio" governor also announced a $1.7 billion investment in Building Ohio Jobs, a stimulas package anticipated to create more than 80,000 good-paying jobs for Ohioans. FULL STORY | PRESS RELEASE | FULL TEXT
Union analysis projects fewer than 500 layoffs with early retirement, attrition impacting rest of 2,700 job cuts
Feb. 4, 2008 - OCSEA is hopeful that less than 500 union members will be laid off as a result of the state's projected budget shortfall for 2008 - 2009. Douglas noted that a recent survey showed an average of one supervisor for 2.7 employees, revealing a bloated middle management.
FULL STORY | COLUMBUS DISPATCH ARTICLE
Lacking data, union reserves judgment on budget cuts, layoffs
Feb. 1, 2008 (updated 5 p.m.) - OCSEA leaders said they have too many unanswered questions about the budget cuts and job elimination proposals announced yesterday by Gov. Ted Strickland and members of his administration and, therefore, would withhold comments until they know more of the details. FULL STORY
Governor announced budget cuts, 2 closings
Jan. 31, 2008 (updated 4:33 p.m.) - Gov. Ted Strickland held an 11 a.m. press conference where he announced budget cuts for agencies and institutions, including 2 mental health hospital closings (Cambridge and Dayton). Staff reductions are estimated between 1,500 to 2,700. Union leaders and staff met with state officials throughout the day and were set to meet with the governor this evening in an effort to learn more about how cuts might impact union members.
FULL STORY | AGENCY CUTS
Agencies consider options to fill budget gap
Jan. 23, 2008 - On the heels of a less-than-rosy budget report in December and the persistent rumor that the state budget must be re-balanced, the governor has asked state agencies to look at strategies for cost savings, including implementing Early Retirement Incentive Plans for some departments. FULL STORY
Resources
Agency Budget Cuts
Agency Budget Cuts (PDF)
Executive Order on Budget Cuts (PDF)
Gov. Strickland's News Release
ERI OCSEA Education Factsheet (PDF)
Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) Plans Memo from OBM Director Sabety (PDF)
Budget Forecast - January 2008 (PDF)
Agency Review Teams request member input; Frontline workers know best how to improve processes, services
See Articles
State budget might suffer massive cuts; Gloomy revenue forecast says shortfall could near $1.9 billion (Jan. 23, 2008 - Columbus Dispatch)
State faces big budget shortfall (Jan. 23, 2008 - The Plain Dealer )
State predicting budget shortfall up to $1.9 billion (Jan. 23, 2008 - Akron Beacon Journal / Ohio.com )
Financial woes push Gov. Strickland to consider ERIs (OCSEA Blog - Jan. 15, 2008)
State considers early retirements (OCSEA Blog - Jan. 8, 2008)
> Archived 2007 Budget news
GET INVOLVED It's never too early to get involved with the state budget process. If you're interested in learning about what you can do to support your agency's budget and preserve the services you deliver as a public employee, let us know by completing the volunteer form.
RESOURCES Union budget activists are encouraged to review the following Grassroots Facts:
State of Ohio Websites:
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