Business and labor leaders, as well as Ohio鈥檚 cities, are very concerned about how some money is being moved around to balance the budget in the face of a billion dollar projected shortfall.
The budget includes a provision to take up to 2 percent from several different funds, including those set up for the state EPA, the Consumers Counsel, the Industrial Commission and the Bureau of Workers鈥� Compensation.
Chris Ferruso of the National Federation of Independent Business/Ohio says that could mean anywhere from $5 million to $11 million could be taken out of the BWC fund, which is money that comes from employers to cover costs for injured workers.
鈥淪ome could make the argument that $5-11 million is a rounding error. But the precedent it sets 鈥� taking employer money to shore up the budget 鈥� can鈥檛 happen," Ferruso says.
And Ferruso says this appears to be more a transfer than a loan, because there are no promises the money will be restored to those funds. But Senate leaders say this is in line with other spending cuts.
