Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:30:07 -0400 From: "Heidi Fought" <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Legislative Alert - Final Version of Budget cc: "Kaitlin Hall" <[log in to unmask]>, "Matt DeTemple" <[log in to unmask]>, "Andrew Huffman ([log in to unmask])" <[log in to unmask]>, "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>, "Marie Kappes GPG" <[log in to unmask]>, "Matt Whitehead" <[log in to unmask]>, "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]> Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]> X-Mailer: Unknown (No Version) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: MULTIPART/mixed; BOUNDARY=d875f580-135d-4879-8431-e110aff6201c Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8BIT --d875f580-135d-4879-8431-e110aff6201c Content-Type: MULTIPART/alternative; BOUNDARY=a47bea96-1be3-47f7-b1b8-0e29ba072f46 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8BIT --a47bea96-1be3-47f7-b1b8-0e29ba072f46 Content-Type: TEXT/plain; charset=us-ascii Dear Township Officials: SB 5 Update Before I get into the budget, here is a short update on SB 5, collective bargaining reform. As of today, petitioners still have not filed signatures to referendum SB 5. The petitioners have until Friday to submit the required number of signatures. Stay tuned for updates. HB 153 (Budget Bill) Update Please find attached a document (list form and chart form) that lists out the sections of HB 153 that impact townships. This is the final list, as the bill was passed out of conference committee late last evening by a 4-2 vote. The Senate has passed the bill 22-11 and the House will vote on the measure tomorrow. The actual bill is not available online yet, but we have gone through the comparison document and the conference committee report. (You may view these items at www.legislature.state.o.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_HB_153.) Once the bill is up on line, we will let you know. Unfortunately, there were a few things changed (or not changed) in the final version of HB 153. The conference committee kept in the language eliminating the estate tax, speeding up the phase out of the TPP and utility tax reimbursements and the deep reductions in the LGF. The conference committee created a grant/loan program for political subdivisions in FY 2013 that will be known as the Local Government Innovation Program. While the OTA supports the concept behind the program, we do not support the funding. As you may recall, the Senate eliminated the House's Innovation Fund and gave the Local Government Fund the $50 million in both FY 2012 and FY 2013 that was supposed to go to the Innovation Fund. The final version of the budget eliminates the $50 million appropriation to the LGF in FY 2013 and, instead, provides that money to the new Innovation Program. Once we get numbers form the Tax Department as to what this means for the LGF, we will share them with you. The conference committee eliminated the provision that would create a new statutory LGF distribution formula and the voting mechanism to implement said new formula. The conference committee did not increase prevailing wage thresholds and so the numbers set by the Senate will be the new thresholds. The conference committee put back into law the provision recently enacted in HB 114, the transportation budget, that no wheel or axle load limits are to apply to vehicles that are transporting certain specific materials and do not exceed the existing gross vehicle weight limit by more than 5% or 7.5%. The Senate had stripped this language from law and the OTA supported this. The conference committee did restore a township's ability to use design-build or construction managers at risk. If you recall, our authority to use such tools were eliminated in the Senate version of the bill. Additionally, the conference committee clarified that food operations are subject to local zoning laws but local governments may not ban or prohibit a food service operation based on the existence or non-existence of food-based health disparities. Furthermore, the conference committee did keep all of the township provisions we were able to get included while the bill was in the House and Senate. The following items remained a part of the bill: - records retention training during 3 hr. public records class; - clarify destruction of public records law; - clarify records retention law; - document trustee pay; - allocate fiscal officer pay; - permit township and municipality to form a joint police district; - increase township competitive bidding thresholds; - clarify township's ability to regulate township cemeteries; - clarify township merger law; - provide an expedited procedure for township and municipal mergers; - allocation of township levy expenses; - expand use of police and fire levy monies; and - expand contracting authority of a 6119 district. The Governor will likely have a little over 24 hours to sign and veto provisions in the budget. We will definitely let you know if the Governor vetoes any of the provisions outlined on our list. The fiscal parts of HB 153 will be effective July 1, 2011 (unless otherwise noted) and all other provisions will be effective 90 days after the Governor signs the bill unless otherwise noted. We will provide you with effective dates of each section once known. The OTA strongly encourages you to work with your legal counsel on the implementation of any or all of these provisions. Should you have any questions about any of the information presented herein, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Heidi M. Fought Director of Governmental Affairs Ohio Township Association 6500 Taylor Road, Suite A Blacklick, OH 43004 (614) 863-0045 (614) 863-9751 Fax NOTICE: This electronic mail transmission is for the use of the named individual or entity to which it is directed and may contain information that is privileged or confidential. It is not to be transmitted to or received by anyone other than the named addressee (or a person authorized to deliver it to the named addressee). It is not to be copied or forwarded to any unauthorized persons. If you have received this electronic mail transmission in error, delete it from your system without copying or forwarding it, and notify the sender of the error by replying via e-mail or by calling the Ohio Township Association at (614) 863-0045 so that our address record can be corrected. --a47bea96-1be3-47f7-b1b8-0e29ba072f46 Content-Type: TEXT/html; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8BIT <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content="text/html; charset=us-ascii" http-equiv=Content-Type> <META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.19088"></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Dear Township Officials:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">SB 5 Update<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Before I get into the budget, here is a short update on SB 5, collective bargaining reform.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As of today, petitioners still have not filed signatures to referendum SB 5.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The petitioners have until Friday to submit the required number of signatures.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Stay tuned for updates.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">HB 153 (Budget Bill) Update<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Please find <FONT color=#ff0000>attached a document (list form and chart form)</FONT> that lists out the sections of HB 153 that impact townships.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is the final list, as the bill was passed out of conference committee late last evening by a 4-2 vote.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Senate has passed the bill 22-11 and the House will vote on the measure tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The actual bill is not available online yet, but we have gone through the comparison document and the conference committee report.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(You may view these items at www.legislature.state.o.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_HB_153.)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Once the bill is up on line, we will let you know.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Unfortunately, there were a few things changed (or not changed) in the final version of HB 153.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The conference committee kept in the language eliminating the estate tax, speeding up the phase out of the TPP and utility tax reimbursements and the deep reductions in the LGF.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The conference committee created a grant/loan program for political subdivisions in FY 2013 that will be known as the Local Government Innovation Program.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While the OTA supports the concept behind the program, we do not support the funding.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As you may recall, the Senate eliminated the House’s Innovation Fund and gave the Local Government Fund the $50 million in both FY 2012 and FY 2013 that was <SPAN class=973104222-28062011>supposed </SPAN>to go to the Innovation Fund.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The final version of the budget eliminates the $50 million appropriation to the LGF in FY 2013 and, instead, provides that money to the new Innovation Program.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Once we get numbers form the Tax Department as to what this means for the LGF, we will share them with you.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The conference committee eliminated the provision that would create a new statutory LGF distribution formula and the voting mechanism to implement said new formula.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The conference committee did not increase prevailing wage thresholds and so the numbers set by the Senate will be the new thresholds.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The conference committee put back into law the <SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">provision recently enacted in HB 114, the transportation budget, that no wheel or axle load limits are to apply to vehicles that are transporting certain specific materials and do not exceed the existing gross vehicle weight limit by more than 5% or 7.5%.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Senate had stripped this language from law and the OTA supported this.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The conference committee did restore a township’s ability to use design-build or construction managers at risk.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you recall, our authority to use such tools were eliminated in the Senate version of the bill.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Additionally, the conference committee clarified that food operations are subject to local zoning laws but local governments may not ban or prohibit a food service operation based on the existence or non-existence of food-based health disparities.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Furthermore, the conference committee did keep all of the township provisions we were able to get included while the bill was in the House and Senate.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The following items remained a part of the bill:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">- records retention training during 3 hr. public records class;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">- clarify destruction of public records law;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">- clarify records retention law;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">- document trustee pay;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">- allocat<SPAN class=973104222-28062011>e</SPAN> fiscal officer pay;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">- permit township and municipality to form a joint police district;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">- increas<SPAN class=973104222-28062011>e</SPAN> township competitive bidding thresholds;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">- clarify township’s ability to regulate township cemeteries;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">- clarify township merger law;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">- provide an expedited procedure for township and municipal mergers;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">- allocation of township levy expenses;<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">- expand use of police and fire levy monies; and<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">- expand contracting authority of a 6119 district.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The Governor will likely have a little over 24 hours to sign and veto provisions in the budget.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We will definitely let you know if the Governor vetoes any of the provisions outlined on our list.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The fiscal parts of HB 153 will be effective July 1, 2011 (unless otherwise noted) and all other provisions will be effective 90 days after the Governor signs the bill unless otherwise noted.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We will provide you with effective dates of each section once known.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">The OTA strongly encourages you to work with your legal counsel on the implementation of any or all of these provisions.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Should you have any questions about any of the information presented herein, please do not hesitate to contact me.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Sincerely,</SPAN></P></DIV><!-- Converted from text/plain format --> <P><FONT size=2>Heidi M. Fought<BR>Director of Governmental Affairs<BR>Ohio Township Association<BR>6500 Taylor Road, Suite A<BR>Blacklick, OH 43004<BR>(614) 863-0045<BR>(614) 863-9751 Fax<BR><BR><BR>NOTICE: This electronic mail transmission is for the use of the named individual or entity to which it is directed and may contain information that is privileged or confidential. It is not to be transmitted to or received by anyone other than the named addressee (or a person authorized to deliver it to the named addressee). It is not to be copied or forwarded to any unauthorized persons. If you have received this electronic mail transmission in error, delete it from your system without copying or forwarding it, and notify the sender of the error by replying via e-mail or by calling the Ohio Township Association at (614) 863-0045 so that our address record can be corrected.<BR></FONT></P> <DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML> --a47bea96-1be3-47f7-b1b8-0e29ba072f46-- --d875f580-135d-4879-8431-e110aff6201c Content-Type: APPLICATION/msword; name="Items in HB 153 Imapcting Townships - Final.doc" Content-Transfer-Encoding: BASE64 Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Items in HB 153 Imapcting Townships - Final.doc" --d875f580-135d-4879-8431-e110aff6201c Content-Type: APPLICATION/msword; name="Final Chart.doc" Content-Transfer-Encoding: BASE64 Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="Final Chart.doc" --d875f580-135d-4879-8431-e110aff6201c--