State of the State Address

(February 27, 2014)  On Monday, Governor Kasich delivered his annual State of the State Address in Medina. The Governor focused his policy agenda on the following areas:

• A New Personal Income Tax Cut—Reducing Ohio’s Income Tax Rate Below 5 Percent: The governor will propose new tax cuts that reduce Ohio’s income tax rate below 5 percent, made possible by the long-overdue reform of Ohio’s severance tax on oil and gas drilling and other tax reforms*.
• Strengthening Education and Workforce Training
• Dropout Prevention and Recovery
• Expanding Vocational Education
• Academic Credit for Veterans’ Military Training and Experience
• Expanding Ohio’s New “Start Talking!” Drug Abuse Prevention Campaign
• More Tobacco Cessation Efforts

Governor Kasich will seek to implement many of his ideas within the yet-to-be introduced mid-biennium budget review. Please note the following items that may result from the Governor’s proposed mid-biennium budget review which will have a direct impact on our membership:

• *An increase of the commercial activity tax (CAT) from .26% to .30%
• *A rumored tax increase of $1 per pack on cigarettes as well as the potential for a tax increase on Other Tobacco Products
  o    These tax increases may be done to help fund the proposed income tax cut.

The Ohio Grocers Association will be strongly opposed to these and other tax changes that will hurt the bottom line of Ohio’s grocery industry. Please contact Kristin Mullins, OGA Director of Government Relations if you are willing to help us engage state lawmakers about the impact these tax increases will have on your operations. We will update the membership as more details emerge.