Latest news with #Ohioans
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
DeWine announces extended Ohio Sales Tax Holiday
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Families will be able to save even more money during Ohio's tax-free shopping period. Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly have once again expanded the Ohio Sales Tax Holiday to a full two weeks. Retail store opens in former Trotwood Big Lots The 2025 Sales Tax Holiday will run from Friday, Aug. 1 to Thursday, Aug. 14. This allows families to save money on school supplies and other general necessities. During this time period, shoppers can make qualifying purchases in-store and online without paying state sales tax. In 2024, the state of Ohio extended the three-day tax-free weekend to a full 10 days, and expanded to include a wider range of items up to $500, rather than be limited to just school supplies. 'Ohio's sales tax holiday is a practical way we can help working families keep more of their hard-earned dollars,' said Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives Matt Huffman. 'Whether it's back-to-school shopping or everyday essentials, this is an opportunity for Ohioans to get more value for their money.' The tax exemption does not apply to services or to purchases of motor vehicles, watercraft, outboard motors, alcohol, tobacco, vapor products or any item containing marijuana. To learn more, visit the Ohio Department of Taxation's website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio leaders at odds about property tax relief in budget
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — State lawmakers will be passing a multi-billion-dollar state budget in just a few weeks, but more changes are coming to the spending bill on Tuesday. Public school teachers said they hope some of the changes are in school funding. 'We're just asking for things to be made fair,' Ironton City Schools physical education teacher Daniel Murphy said. Murphy said he grew up in a low-income house, went to public school and is now a teacher and president of his local union. Without his public school, he said none of it would have been possible. 'It's a stamp on what public education can truly do when it's given a fair, equal cut of the budget,' Murphy said. Murphy said that's why budget talks worry him right now, and said it risks cutting programs for students. 'How does that effect funding for meals? How does that directly affect us on how we do our after-school activities,' Murphy said. Under the proposal, schools do see an increase in funding compared to the past two years, but the 'fair school funding plan' that was created several budget cycles ago is no longer in play. 'If we had done what some call the 'third phase,' it would've been a $1.8 billion increase in school funding, which pretty much would've wiped out other funding we did for daycare, a whole number of other things,' Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said. Instead, schools now see $550 million in the house version of the budget; Huffman called it substantial. Property tax relief plays into all of this too. Right now, the state budget has a relief plan that works like this: if you live in a school district that carried over more than 30% of its budget from the previous year, your property tax bill will go down. But Republican leadership between chambers is at odds about the proposal. 'The 30% number was based on the fact that prior to this conversation, the school standard was 25% carryover,' Huffman said. 'I think 30% is too low. I think it fails to account for some of the unforeseen circumstances that schools that may have to deal with from a capital perspective,' Ohio Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) said. The proposal would impact 486 of the state's 600-some school districts. Huffman touts this as likely the largest property tax relief in the state's history, estimated to help Ohioans save $4.2 billion dollars. But will he compromise on the 30%? 'It's not a matter of sort of, 'well how about 70%, how about 50%,' or whatever,' he said. 'It's 'what is the reason that some other number is appropriate,' so I guess I'd have to have that argument as to what would be appropriate.' McColley said schools need enough money to be ready for unforeseen circumstances, like replacing a boiler or a getting a new roof. But he said he can see that too much stored money is not ideal. 'Acknowledging that if a school is carrying over very large amounts of money, is that really a good thing either? So, we'll see where we end up,' McColley said. 'I don't know that we've reached a final idea as to what we're going to do.' The Senate is planning to amend the state budget on Tuesday. Once the Senate passes its version of the state budget, the House and Senate will need to come to an agreement by July 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Four charged after 38 dogs, 7 ferrets found inside Bethel home filled with feces, urine
Four people have been charged in Clermont County after dozens of dogs and several ferrets were found living in "squalid" conditions in a house earlier in May. The Clermont County Dog Warden announced that four Bethel residents – Terri Sprague, Christopher Davis, Vicki Miller and Anthony Miller – are facing animal cruelty charges after 38 dogs and seven ferrets were seized and impounded from Sprague's Campbell Lane home on May 5. The warden launched an investigation on May 2 after Deputy Dog Warden Sarah Steele came into possession of a dog whose fur was stained with urine and heavily matted, according to a criminal complaint. The dog had been picked up as a stray by a local resident, who then posted about it on social media in an attempt to locate its owner. Davis, who is Sprague's son, responded to the post, identifying himself as the owner. Steele contacted Davis over the phone and coordinated a time for her to take the dog to his mother's house, where he also lived. Steele went to the house and met with Sprague, who court documents say had "feces on her clothing and reeked ofurine." She also told Steele that she had 11 other dogs inside the house. More: 'Beyond disturbing': 11 more people indicted in 'animal crush videos' case Chief Dog Warden Tim Pappas wrote in the complaint that officials were able to obtain a search warrant, which they served on May 5, based on Steele's observations and interaction with Sprague. While executing the search warrant, 34 dogs − mostly Chinese Crested but including a mix of breeds and ages − were found confined to a single room. Seven ferrets were found in a cage. Steele described the conditions as "the worst I've ever seen." More: Thousands of Ohioans are attacked by dogs each year. How to avoid bites, protect yourself 'The smell of feces and urine was overpowering," Steele said in the release. "The floor was covered inches deep in feces and the dogs were matted in feces and urine. None of the animals had fresh food or water. Their bowls were even filled with feces.' Additionally, according to the complaint, the ammonia level due to the urine was eye-watering and made it difficult to breathe. Garbage, rotting food with bugs and clothing stacked close to the ceiling were also seen in most areas of the house. Sprague, Vicki Miller and Anthony Miller were all present while the search warrant was being served. Four additional dogs were found in another room that was occupied by both Millers, who are married, according to the release. The Clermont County Animal Shelter took possession of the animals after they were recovered by the wardens. The defendants lost possession of the animals when they failed to post bond to cover the cost of their care at the shelter. The court set that bond at $29,250 per month. All but one dog has since been adopted or placed in foster care, the release said. Sprague and Vicki Miller were arraigned on May 28, the release said. Sprague is facing 41 counts of cruelty to a companion animal, a first-degree misdemeanor, with her trial date set for June 26. Vicki Miller is facing four counts of cruelty to a companion animal and 34 counts of complicity, and her trial date is set for June 12 Davis and Anthony Miller are slated to be arraigned in Clermont County Municipal Court on June 4, with Davis facing one count of cruelty to a companion animal and 34 counts of complicity. Miller faces four counts of cruelty to a companion animal and 34 counts of complicity. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: 4 charged after 38 dogs, 7 ferrets found inside Clermont County home
Axios
a day ago
- Politics
- Axios
Ohio group pushes to abolish property taxes
A group of Ohioans is seeking a statewide vote this November to eliminate property taxes statewide. Why it matters: Abolishing the tax would slash billions in funding for a variety of public services, including schools, which heavily rely on property tax levies. Catch up quick: The movement is led by Citizens for Property Tax Reform, based in Cuyahoga County. The group got the go-ahead earlier this month to start collecting signatures for the proposed constitutional amendment. What's next: Organizers have until early July to gather about 443,000 signatures from at least half of Ohio's 88 counties to reach the November ballot. Gathering began in earnest this week, group founder Keith Davey tells Axios. How it works: In Ohio, property values are based on county auditor appraisals every six years. The Department of Taxation uses mills to calculate how many dollars owners pay per $1,000 of property value. Municipalities tax property at different millage rates, but Ohio law establishes a 20-mill "floor" that guarantees school districts a certain amount of property tax revenue. Davey says his group believes increasing taxes based on increasing value is a "tax on unrealized gains." Threat level: Property tax rates and uses vary, but they're the main source of funding for schools in many communities. Local property taxes account for 70% of the Columbus City Schools' general fund. "To eliminate property taxes would completely pull the rug out of the public schools and other public services all across the state," Ohio Education Association president Scott DiMauro told WBNS-TV. What they're saying: State Rep. Sean Brennan (D-Parma) said in a statement that lawmakers should view the push for abolition as a sign that reform — rather than elimination of the tax — is needed. "The Ohio General Assembly has all but ignored the pleas for property tax reform for years, so it is no wonder Ohioans are trying to take this into their own hands." Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano has shared concerns about schools, senior services and the zoo. Abolishing property taxes would "cripple" townships, according to Heidi Fought, executive director of the Ohio Township Association. The other side: Davey says school funding concerns are the most common thing he hears, but says "our group does not advocate defunding anything" and instead advocates for funding "not attached to our property." He says state and local officials have had plenty of time to change property tax funding mechanisms, and now it's time to force their hand. "For years, I've been hearing that they don't have the time to put something together," he says. "But in two weeks, they put together a $600 million bond issue for the Cleveland Browns."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Bugging Ohio! Right now it's midges —what's next!?
CLEVELAND (WJW) – What's bugging Ohio? Well, right now, it's midges! But, bug-fearing northeast Ohioans better buckle up! Summer is just getting underway. Still ahead — cicadas, mayflies, and more! PHOTOS: Ohio insects so close — your eyes will bug. YIKES! Recently, swarms of midges have been spotted on cars, homes, light poles, and just about anything near Lake Erie. Even 'clouds' of the generally harmless insects have been seen flying across the sky. The good news? Midge season typically peaks in late May or early June, which means it'll be over soon. Swarms of noisy cicadas are expected to emerge soon in southwest Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources reports that the periodical cicadas are a unique group and differ from annual cicadas. Swarms of the bugs can certainly be unsettling for some, but experts emphasize that cicadas are harmless to people and pets. They're expected to emerge when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, which typically happens in the second half of May. The insects will remain active for three to four weeks as they search for a mate. CLICK HERE to learn more about what their names implies, Mayflies typically arrive in Northeast Ohio in late June. Communities along Lake Erie are already bracing for the mass arrival of the light-loving insects. Last week, FirstEnergy announced that to help deter the bugs and keep roads safe, streetlights in select communities will be temporarily turned off. In years past, huge swarms of mayflies have been captured on FOX 8 radar arriving on the shores of Lake Erie. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
