Read my lips, no new taxes!
Ohio budget plan breaks previous pledges
February 03, 2009 15:08 EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Gov. Ted Strickland's new $55 billion budget proposal is a step back from previous priorities and pledges.
He included several business tax credits in his spending plan released Monday, even though he opposed such credits two years ago.
And while he promised not to raise taxes on average Ohioans, he's calling for 120 fee hikes instead.
Those fees, if enacted, will make it more expensive for Ohioans to register a vehicle, obtain a birth certificate and dump garbage.
Strickland is also putting a plan on hold to make high-speed Internet access available throughout Ohio. He ordered in July 2007 that broadband be extended to all 88 Ohio counties.
State Budget Director Pari Sabety says the initiative has to be halted because of the tight budget.
