70%: Share of respondents to our survey of felony-impacted Ohioans (conducted in partnership with Building Freedom Ohio) who reported experiencing at least one conviction-related denial of employment or getting fired from a job after a background check. The Get Rehabilitated Ohioans Working (GROW) Act could help more people get back to work after a conviction […] The post Saturday Stats appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
Poorly targeted bill will harm school districts, leave out property owners who need relief, and benefit some who don’t Policy Matters Ohio’s analysis of Substitute House Bill 186 notes that the proposed legislation could strip nearly $1.7 billion from public schools over three years. Its tax relief measures would benefit property owners in Indian Hill, […] The post Property tax proposal misses the mark appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
Federal lawmakers could avoid a price-hike while averting a government shutdown *UPDATE: October 1, 2025 — Where indicated, this release had been updated to reflect new KFF analysis based on more recent data, showing that without Congressional action, annual Healthcare Marketplace premiums will more than double next year, from an average of $888 in 2025 […] The post Marketplace health insurance premiums will skyrocket unless Congress acts appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
The Trump Administration continues to navigate the CHIPS Act in ways that would have even the riskiest gambler saying, “too rich for my blood.” Most recently, the president rolled the dice on Intel by converting a CHIPS grant into a 10% equity stake in the corporation. In exchange, Intel received $5.7 billion in CHIPS Act grants that […]| Policy Matters Ohio
For most Ohioans, flat tax scheme is a flop The Ohio Senate has passed its state budget bill. Policy Matters Ohio Tax Policy Researcher Bailey Williams issued the following statement: “Every budget is a statement about who our lawmakers serve. The senate-passed version of the budget bill makes it clear that the wealthy and well-connected […]| Policy Matters Ohio
New data illustrate impact by district In FY 2026-27, Ohio’s legislature will distribute some school funding through supplements that increase disparities across economic lines, further shortchanging districts with high levels of student poverty, according to a new brief from Policy Matters Ohio. The brief accompanies a series of district-level factsheets, many of which show that […] The post Legislators abandon Fair School Funding, add supplements that increase disparities appeared first...| Policy Matters Ohio
Seasonally adjusted data released today by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) show that Ohio gained 9,900 jobs in August, from a downwardly revised 5,720,300 jobs in July to 5,730,200 in August. The state’s unemployment rate remained steady at 5.0% – among the worst rates in the nation. Inflation increased to 2.9%, […] The post Moderate job growth in August, Ohio unemployment holds steady appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
75.3%: Amount by which Ohio workers are more productive than their counterparts in 1979. 18.5%: Amount by which Ohio workers’ median pay has increased in that same period. That’s a lot of additional value generated by people who aren’t getting their fair share of the profits. It’s just one example in this year’s State of […] The post Saturday Stats appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
Survey shows biggest impact on employment, driver’s license suspensions A new brief, “Fired, Denied, Rescinded,” shows some of the harm done to Ohioans by collateral sanctions: legal restrictions tied to criminal convictions even after a person has completed their sentence. Based on a survey conducted by Policy Matters and Building Freedom Ohio, the brief suggests […] The post Sanctions limit opportunities for Ohioans with criminal convictions appeared first on Policy Matters Ohio.| Policy Matters Ohio
The ugly truth about the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”: It's the largest upward transfer of wealth in American history.| Policy Matters Ohio
Today, Policy Matters Ohio released an updated and expanded “State of Working Ohio” report, providing a broader picture of how the economy is working for working people. The additional data — covering employment, wages, productivity, and unionization rates — provide additional context to understand the Ohio economy, as well as new Census data on poverty, […] The post Expanded State of Working Ohio and new Census data underscore need for a strong public sector and public policy appea...| Policy Matters Ohio
Ineffective tax breaks warrant strict review Unproductive tax breaks that favor corporations and wealthy Ohioans have riddled the state tax code for years. In a new report released today, Policy Matters Ohio outlines the scope of these tax expenditures, as they are known, and recent changes that hold out some hope for change. “As of […]| Policy Matters Ohio
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
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
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 […]| 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 […]| 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 […]| 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 […]| 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 […]| 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
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
