The State of Working Ohio, 2025 In 1999, the year before Policy Matters was founded, Amy Hanauer and Mark Cassell published the very first State of Working Ohio report. Among their findings: In the previous 20 years, Ohio’s median wage had fallen, including decreases for men, Black men, Black women, workers without a high school […]| Policy Matters Ohio
In honor of Policy Matters Ohio’s 25th anniversary, our annual Labor Day lookback at key economic indicators also looks back at the last 25 years, finding that Ohio workers are still struggling “For decades, federal and state policymakers have prioritized ‘business-friendly’ policies and trickle-down tax codes, benefiting the wealthiest among us,” said Heather Smith, researcher […]| Policy Matters Ohio
25: Policy Matters is celebrating 25 years of working for a more vibrant, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive Ohio. Please join our staff and board on September 30th for a casual open house in Cleveland to celebrate our accomplishments, stand in solidarity, and connect with each other. You can RSVP and find out all the details […] The post Saturday Stats appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
Messages for discussing property tax reform in Ohio Key Message Some Ohioans are paying too much in property taxes. Reform should help them — without making our tax code even less equitable and without harming schools and other public services that rely on property taxes. Talking Points The post Property tax circuit breaker is effective, targeted tax reform appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
Note: This event was held on Aug. 20, 2025. Some information may be out of date. See below for details about events and resources mentioned in the recording. Panelists (in order of appearance) Resources More info on how the federal budget impacts Ohioans| Policy Matters Ohio
Ohio unemployment ticks up, with moderate job gains in July| Policy Matters Ohio
Ohio employers added 5,400 jobs in July. The state’s unemployment rate ticked up 0.1 percentage points to 5.0%, after holding at 4.9% for three consecutive months – among the worst rates in the U.S. Inflation hovered at 2.7%, no change from June. The takeaway: Ohio saw job growth for a second month in a row, […]| Policy Matters Ohio
$600M: Amount of Ohioans’ tax dollars already paid to Intel as part of the chip-maker’s contract with the state — in return for which we were promised two massive, job-creating factories in New Albany. We’ve already given Intel that money, and promised them more, plus infrastructure investments to help them out. But Intel just keeps […] The post Saturday Stats appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
This piece originally appeared on Cleveland.com on July 27, 2025 Ohio is about to begin its second annual expanded Sales Tax Holiday. This holiday has been panned by experts across the political spectrum. The conservative Tax Foundation and the progressive Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy describe sales tax holidays as ineffective drains on public […] The post Everyday Ohioans should not settle for sales tax holiday crumbs appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
Expanding and sustaining non-police crisis response critical to public safety and trust On July 28, Policy Matters Ohio, REACH, members of the CareforCLE Coalition, and other local stakeholders sent a letter to the office of Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb urging him to reaffirm his commitment to non-police crisis response by supporting Tanisha’s Law. Named for […] The post Policy Matters, 16 partners call on Mayor Bibb to support Tanisha’s Law appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
1 of 3: Number of Governor DeWine’s property-tax line-item vetoes that the Ohio House was able to muster the votes to override, out of those they initially targeted. On July 21, the House overrode the veto of Item 66, which eliminates replacement and emergency levies currently allowed under Ohio law, from the biennial operating budget […] The post Saturday Stats appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
House makes it harder for public schools to raise funds locally Today, the Ohio House of Representatives continued their crusade against public education by overriding Gov. DeWine’s line-item veto of a property-tax measure included in the state operating budget that was passed last month. Of three vetoes targeted for override, House leadership was only able […] The post Another loss for Ohio schools appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
Ohio employers gained 10,400 jobs in June. This is a return to trend, following job losses in May. Statewide unemployment remained unchanged at 4.9%, 0.8 percentage points higher than the national rate in June. At the same time, inflation ticked up for the second month in a row after falling for several consecutive months, rising […] The post Ohio unemployment holds steady despite reported job gains appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
$60B: Cost of the two-year state operating budget, H.B. 96, signed into law by Gov. DeWine on July 1. The bill includes massive tax cuts for the wealthy that will require deep cuts to public services that benefit everyone. Ohio’s wealthiest 20% of households will reap nearly all the benefits of a flat, 2.75% income […] The post Saturday Stats appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
Still time to shut it down in the House Today, the Senate passed the federal budget mega-bill by the narrowest margin possible. It’s telling that the last hold-out vote, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), did not switch to a Yes until she had secured special carve-outs to lessen the bill’s impact on her state. That’s because […]| Policy Matters Ohio
Ohio legislators sent a budget to Gov. DeWine that gives a billion-dollar annual tax break to Ohioans earning six figures. This tax cut is possible, in part, because the legislature is underfunding schools by $2.86 billion, as compared to the amount the Fair School Funding plan says schools need to provide an adequate education, regardless […]| Policy Matters Ohio
19: Line items in the final version of the state budget bill that we recommend Gov. DeWine veto. First among them is the budget-busting $1.1B flax-tax proposal that would primarily benefit the wealthiest households in the state, and do nothing for those making less than $100K a year. The governor is expected to sign the […]| Policy Matters Ohio
Use the talking points below to help plan your call. Saying how federal budget cuts to programs like SNAP and Medicaid would harm you or your loved ones is a powerful message! Talking points Ohio cannot afford these cuts! Urge the Senators to protect their constituents and safeguard essential services Ohioans depend on.| Policy Matters Ohio
Policy Matters Creating a more vibrant, equitable, sustainable and inclusive Ohio. Explore Research Topics K-12 Funding view all Tax policy view all Flat tax is wrong for Ohio Ohio lawmakers have enacted a budget that will make teachers and truck drivers pay the same income tax rate as billionaires. It comes at a heavy cost. […]| Policy Matters Ohio
Following six months of reported job gains, Ohio employers shed 6,500 jobs in May. Both statewide and U.S. unemployment remained unchanged, at a rate of 4.9% in Ohio, 0.7 percentage points higher than the national rate in May. At the same time, inflation ticked up after falling for several consecutive months, rising from 2.3% in […]| Policy Matters Ohio
