Growing Ohio's Economy in the 21st Century Marketplace and Limited Budget

By Connie Pillich

We can put Ohio back on track to a strong economy if we focus on the industries of the 21st Century. I also have ideas for scrutinizing our budget and setting priorities for spending.

It's no secret that Ohio's economy suffered under Gov. Bob Taft's leadership and one-party rule in the state. Although we've made some recent gains in creating some professional, health and education jobs, we've not done enough to replace the 250,000 manufacturing jobs we lost in the last ten years.

Because of our fantastic history as a manufacturing powerhouse, Ohio is uniquely positioned to be a manufacturing leader again. But this time, we're creating jobs in green technology and energy-related products such as fuel cells, wind turbines, solar power fixtures, and energy-efficient cars and trucks. These fields are ideally suited for the skills of our manufacturing workers + the welders, machinists, electricians, and iron and steel workers.

We can also grow Ohio's economy in other areas. Ohio boasts many fabulous research universities. In today's high-tech world, research is the key to competition. Ohio can be a top research center.

Ohio, due to its location, quality of life, and revised tax code is an ideal state for corporate headquarters to reside. Corporate headquarters bring many jobs and a great deal of economic activity from those employees.

To attract these types of new businesses we must retain our educated workforce, maintain our infrastructure, and sustain our quality of recreational and entertainment activities in our state.

-Stable Educated Workforce

Businesses need good employees. And good employees have to have a good education.

A stable workforce is the product of good schools + K-12 schools and higher education such as technical and trade schools, colleges, and universities. Without an educated population to work at 21st century jobs, 21st century industries cannot survive.

Unfortunately, Ohio's colleges and universities have become unaffordable to many young people. For years, the state legislature repeatedly reduced funding for higher education, causing tuition to escalate to 46% above the national average. Parents seeking to send their children to college are finding that other states invest more in their universities, thus lowering the tuition rates + even for non-resident students. And when young people go to school elsewhere, they locate elsewhere. We need them in Ohio.

To keep them here, I propose lowering tuition, creating student loan deferments, and establishing an Ohio Service Corps to trade public service for tuition credit.

We also need to enhance our technical and trade schools. We can tighten admission standards and partner with businesses in order to make the educational experience stronger. We must acknowledge that for most, a high school diploma is not enough.

-Infrastructure

A successful business must be able to get its people to work, move its product to market, and communicate in our global economy. Ohio must provide dependable and accessible infrastructure: good roads, highways, rail, communications, water, and energy. We must improve and update our interstate highways and other transportation systems to handle the growing traffic volume. And, we must ensure that all types of infrastructure are well-built and reliable.

-Nice Place to Live

Ohio is a beautiful state. We Ohioans love our parks and green spaces. We have a terrific state park system as well as many county and municipal parks, gardens, and trails. We are blessed with wonderful waterways. Our cities have entertainment districts, theaters, amusement parks, coffee houses, civic centers, and many other things to do. People want recreational and entertainment attractions. We not only need an entertaining place, but we also need a clean place: clean air, water, and land. This all makes Ohio more attractive to new businesses. We must continue to make Ohio a nice place to live.

SCRUTINIZING OUR BUDGET

I am committed to a balanced budget. And 2009 will present one of the most challenging budgets in many years. State revenues are down nearly $2 billion. This will create intense competition for the limited dollars available.

How can Ohio meet all of our financial demands with less money? Set priorities and cut spending.

My spending priorities begin with keeping children safe. Children at risk deserve nothing less. Our next priority must be to put Ohio back on track to economic prosperity. That means new jobs and new businesses.

My other priorities are higher education, skills training, and health care.

In addition to setting priorities, we must cut our spending. Let's begin by demanding that all departments and agencies suggest their own budget cuts. Then, let's conduct a performance audit of every state department and agency to see where we can trim the fat and become more efficient.

I am committed to a balanced budget, a fit government, and common sense priorities to strengthen Ohio.

CUTTING SPENDING

Ohio's budget has grown a great deal over the last 20 years. Some of this is due to inflation. Some is due to the cost of technology. And some is due to waste. The Ohio legislature cannot do much about inflation or the cost of technology. But we can do something about waste.

Every organization, regardless of its effectiveness, needs to periodically step back and examine itself. When I was in the Air Force, we called this a self-inspection. Every year, we reviewed our operations and administrative procedures; and every 12-24 months, the Air Force Inspector General visited our base to see how we were doing our jobs. This evaluation process confirmed our successes, showed where there was room for improvement, and ensured our accountability to the citizens who depended upon us.

Ohio can do the same. Our state auditor can conduct performance audits. Unfortunately, the legislature refuses to require performance audits as a part of the budgeting process. These audits are needed.

A timely audit would have revealed problems in Hamilton County's Jobs & Family Services that surfaced recently and will cost taxpayers over $200 million dollars.

Performance audits will show us where we can trim fat in expenditures. It will help us learn how to do things more efficiently. And that is good for all of Ohio.