Loss of slots could put budget in peril

Sept. 23, 2009 - A Supreme Court decision could be sending Gov. Ted Strickland and the state legislature back to the well to drain even more money from Ohio’s state coffers. In a suspiciously partisan maneuver, the slot machine proposal that would have helped prop up Ohio’s flagging budget may now need to go before Ohio’s voters.

The slots would have brought in an estimated $1 billion to Ohio’s budget over the biennium. But in a 6-1 decision, the Ohio Supreme Court reversed that course by saying the proposal is subject to a referendum of voters. The governor has argued that the proposal does not have to appear on the ballot because it concerns budget appropriations.

Now the talk has turned to how a potential budget hole might be filled, with Strickland opponents and proponents talking the “T” word (taxes) again. The governor continues to say that raising taxes would hurt Ohio’s middle class, but at this point isn’t ruling anything out.

According to press reports, the governor could also use his executive authority to bring the slot measure forward.

Complicating matters is another proposal scheduled to be on the ballot in November that would open up four gambling casinos in the state.

The governor has said that he and his team will be considering the state’s options carefully.

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