STATE OF STATE ADDRESS 
Focus on education, health care, strategic investments... and "hope" for a new Ohio

March 14, 2007 - Major new programs targeting schools, the uninsured and job-increasing investments were announced today during the State of the State address (PDF), but Gov. Ted Strickland warned that the new initiatives would not come without sacrifice.

TOUGH CHOICES  The governor spoke in generalities about the likely state budget, saving the details for tomorrow's official release and briefings. But, he did indicate that he and his cabinet face and had to make tough choices in regard to state agencies.

Strickland mentioned several budget proposal highlights. In summary, Strickland said that two unnamed state agencies would have their budgets cut, nine would see no increases, and seven would get increases.

He indicated that the GRF portion of state spending will actually shrink and the overall budget will increase only 2.2% over biennium, a level that he claimed to be the smallest budget growth in last 42 years.

POSSIBLE CONSOLIDATIONS Another concern is the possible consolidation of workforce/job development programs. Although Strickland didn't speak directly to the issue, he did talk about squeezing the most out of these training programs.

Although it would seem that Development is the one agency most accountable for employment opportunities, ODJFS also has its hands in some of these programs. Whether some consolidation or a shift between these agencies is in the works remains to be seen, but more may be known after the union has time to pore through the budgets after tomorrow.

INNOVATION AND ACCOUNTABILITY The governor said he would be calling on state agencies to participate in what he is calling his Advantage Ohio program—a top to bottom review of regulations that are contradictory and obsolete.

He also spoke of a new business model, the Ohio Government Accountability Plan, that all agencies statewide will be required to deploy. It's within this program that OCSEA will have a prime opportunity to present examples of top-heavy management and waste.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY RESPONSE General Assembly Democrats followed up the Governors speech with a news conference in which they pledged to support Strickland's proposals. Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Senator Chris Redfern also predicted that the austere budget would require more of every state agency and state employee.

Resources

2007 State of State Address (PDF)

State Budget Resources

Video - Gov. Strickland talks about accountability, service at quality event

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