Comments on: Act 72

By: Ales Rarus - $600 Million Slot Revenue: Jackpot or Ripoff?

Ales Rarus - $600 Million Slot Revenue: Jackpot or Ripoff? — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 18:00:21 +0000

[...] taxes are most negatively affected by gambling. In fact, we're back to where we were when Act 72 was introduced in an attempt to fund education without raising property taxes. Gambling is a "desperation tax" on the poor who are hoping against hope to win the [...]

By: Jerry Nora

Jerry Nora — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Actually the state-wide system of distributing property tax was used in Michigan. That precedent, and the continued unrest over property taxes (such as the lovely 3 mill levy in Wilkinsburg) may help spur people to do the right thing.

By: EmilyE

EmilyE — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

And one day, when I become an Ohio Supreme Court justice …

By: Milton Stanley

Milton Stanley — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Beautifully said, Eric. Tennessee recently passed a lottery to fund college scholarships. You articulate well the hypocrisy of the whole thing. Peace.

By: EmilyE

EmilyE — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I agree.

Ohio has similar problems with school funding. The Canton City School District, which has 11,000 students, has had to cut $15 million from its budget in the past four years. $15 million! And the reason they had to cut so much is because, although Canton voters approved a massive emergency levy (9.5 mill, if I recall correctly), the property values in Canton are going down. A larger and larger percent of the homes' values are being taken in taxes to support the schools -- but the net amount keeps decreasing because the homes are worth less and less.

It stinks.

Four times, the Supreme Court of Ohio has ruled that funding schools primarily on the basis of local property taxes is unconstitutional. Four times, it has ordered legislators to fix the problem. And four times, the state legislature has ignored the issue -- and the Supreme Court has refused to hold them in contempt of court.

I voted for one judge who was running for Ohio Supreme Court justice this year just because he said he'd hold the entire state legislature in contempt of court if the case came before him again! Some Ohioans are trying to get a referendum on the ballot in November to reform school funding. I doubt it will happen, but we (like Pa.) need something to be done, and soon.

By: john

john — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

I hate to admit this eric, but I have to agree with everything you just said.

Mark it on your calendars folks, it's a first.