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Ohio’s sales tax holiday

Summer is just getting started, and most families would prefer not to have to think about the start of the next school year just yet. But a little planning is important — and the state is certainly thinking ahead. Last week, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Ohio’s sales tax holiday this year will be two full weeks in August — from midnight Aug. 1 to 11:59 p.m. Aug. 14. That expansion could make a significant difference for families looking to start off the school year as inexpensively as possible. “The timing of this year’s sales tax holiday not only supports families preparing ...

Honor to the arts

Mid-Ohio Valley residents already know Artsbridge is among the outstanding nonprofits that keep our region supported and connected. For Artsbridge, it’s all about what the organization can do “to bring the arts to life in the Mid-Ohio Valley,” and the folks in Columbus have taken note. Last week, Artsbridge was recognized with the 2025 Governor’s Award for the Arts in Ohio, in the community development and participation category. How wonderful to know those in attendance at the ceremony got a little peek at the good things happening here. “We couldn’t be prouder to ...

Not the responsible way

Proposals from advocacy groups and lawmakers have plenty of Ohioans talking about what it would mean to reduce or eliminate property taxes in the state. And certainly, state government should always be working to leave as much money in residents’ pockets as possible. But responsible public officials must be careful not to venture into extreme ideas that would do more harm than good. State Sen. Al Cutrona, R-Canfield, has sponsored a bill to provide a 50% property tax reduction for any homeowner at least 65 years old. Income would NOT be a factor. “Whatever your current ...

Making hard times harder

In a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul, Ohio lawmakers appear to be hoping residents won’t notice what they slipped into House Bill 96 Tuesday afternoon. While some of them tout efforts to reduce and reform other taxes, they may be hoping to make up some of the difference by collecting what the Office of Budget and Management estimates to be more than $100 million in new ones. When the state Senate Finance Committee adopted their substitute version of HB 96, it included the repealing of sales and use tax exemptions for rental payments for motor vehicles provided to the ...

Embracing new roles and new shoes to fill

State Rep. Don Jones, R-95th Dist., has been tapped by the president to become the state executive director for the Ohio Farm Service Agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Jones has already been a fighter for farmers, sponsoring legislation that helped support them with funding after severe drought; and improving laws to address the harm done to the state’s livestock industry by feral swine. Now he has a chance to embrace a new role in that fight. “The 95th District may have changed its configuration since my beginning in 2019, but one thing has remained the same — ...

Improving investigation

Government work groups and task forces don’t always come up with effective solutions (ask the Ohio Redistricting Commission), but the Ohio Missing Persons Working Group appears to have come up with some solid ideas to improve missing persons investigations in the state. In fact, according to a report by the Dayton Daily News, Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson announced 18 areas of improvement in matters such as communication between law enforcement and family members, sharing of information among law enforcement agencies, training and ...