Ohio Senate Approves Jones’ Bill to Increase Oversight of State Rotary Accounts

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Ohio Senate Approves Jones’ Bill to Increase Oversight of State Rotary Accounts

COLUMBUS—Seeking to ensure that the charitable donations of Ohioans go towards their intended purposes, the Ohio Senate today passed Senate Bill 185, legislation sponsored by Senator Shannon Jones (R- Springboro) that would increase the oversight and transparency of state rotary accounts.

Jones introduced SB 185 last year following the discovery that the Strickland Administration had diverted a total of $2.7 million from the Save Our Sight Fund and the Second Chance Trust Fund to balance the budget. These funds are comprised of voluntary donations meant to help children fight blindness and promote organ donation. Although the money was eventually returned, Jones believes the incident highlights the need for more transparency in the way these types of funds are used.

“When Ohioans generously donate their money to these types of accounts, they expect that their money will be used to help those in need – not taken by government officials to fix a budget hole,” Jones said. “I was appalled by the Governor’s attempt to raid these accounts, and SB 185 will remove the temptation for this type of activity to occur in the future and ensure the public is more aware about how rotary accounts are being used.”

While state General Revenue Funds consist mainly of tax receipts, rotary accounts are used by state agencies and departments to collect fees from items such as professional license or certification renewals and may also contain voluntary charitable contributions.

Under SB 185, transfers from non-General Revenue funds, including those made of charitable donations, would be prohibited. In addition, the director of the Office of Budget and Management would be required to give 90-days notice to the Governor, legislative leaders and members of the press prior to making any non-charitable cash transfers to the General Revenue Fund.

SB 185 was approved by a 31-0 vote. The bill now moves to the Ohio House of Representatives for further consideration.

Woman and two children lose everything in fire....Carlisle we need your help!!

Image by LiminalMike via Flickr

If you ever were looking for an opportunity to reach out and serve the needs of others, this is definitely your chance.  Tara Grant, Germantown, went to the hospital for what was ultimately a bug bite.  The bite was so severe and dangerous that the hospital kept her for 3 days to monitor and recover.  While being laid up in the hospital and Tara's mother taking care of her two children the worst was yet to come.  The 3 days in the hospital from a bug bite, of all things, proved to be nothing. Upon release, from the hospital, Tara had learned her home was overtaken by a fire.  Tara and her children...lost absolutely everything!





This is where Peptide Tattoo and hopefully our community comes in to rescue a mom and her two children.  Michael Matlock, aka Matty McTatty, and his wife are good friends with Tara and her family.  Matty is asking for any and all help to get this family back on their feet again.  Donations can be brought to the Peptide Tattoo shop on Central Ave. in the Whistle Stop Center.  Matty, also stated, "My artists and I are
hashing out the rest of the details as far as any fundraising we may do collectively through our work."  This may be a portion of their earnings will go the family or a discount on work at the shop that will go towards a fund raising effort.  Either way, Peptide Tattoo is asking for your help and along with their donations hope to give back to this family that lost everything.


Donation Needs: Clothing for 2 children, boys, ages 10 and 4...sizes 10 and 6t for
boys, 5 in womens and small womens tops. Socks, underwear, t-shirts, linen
for beds, toiletries, shoe sizes 4 1/2 and 2 in boys, 5 1/2 womens...anything anyone can offer is greatly appreciated.

You can take your donations to the Peptide Tattoo Shop at 779 W. Central Ave. Carlisle, Ohio 45005 or call Matty for more information at 937-550-9555.  You may also email The Carlisle Daily @ carlisledaily@gmail.com

Thank you for your support!!

Need Help with Your Heat Bill?

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Assistance Available for Ohioans Needing Help with Winter Heating Bills

The current economy has left many Ohioans struggling to make ends meet. Unfortunately, Ohio’s winter season and the increased heating costs places additional financial pressures on many families at the worst possible time. It is important to remember that there are small steps each of us can take to improve energy efficiency and reduce our overall costs, and for those most in need this winter, there are good programs that can help. 

Making a home more energy efficient is one way everyone can reduce their heating and cooling costs. Simple steps such as ensuring a home’s walls, attic and basement are adequately insulated and using weather stripping or plastic sheeting to seal drafty windows can help keep the indoor temperature steady and lower the amount of gas or electricity used. Other energy-saving tips include using an ENERGY STAR-approved furnace and lowering the temperature on your thermostat when you are away from home.

Households with incomes at or below the federal poverty level, as well as those receiving Supplemental Security Income can participate in the Ohio Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP). HWAP provides attic, wall and basement insulation, heating system repairs or replacements and health and safety testing and inspections at no-cost to participating homes.

Those interested in receiving HWAP benefits need to complete an application, which can be found at the Cincinnati-Hamilton Community Action Agency for Hamilton County residents or at the Warren County Community Services for those living in Warren County. Completed applications can also be mailed to the Office of Community Services at the Ohio Department of Development at 77 South High Street, PO Box 1001, Columbus, OH 43216, although contacting the local agencies listed above is the best and quickest way to access HWAP services.

For those households living on fixed incomes, there are several heating assistance programs available to help with higher energy bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally-funded program that assists low-income Ohioans with the high costs of winter heating by making a one-time credit to their energy bill. Eligible households must have an income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, and the amount of the credit will vary depending on the number of people living in the home and the type of fuel used to heat the home.

Applications for HEAP can be found at your local Community Action Agency, Area Agency on Aging, post office, library or county department of Job and Family Services. You can also call HEAP toll-free at 1-800-282-0880.

Customers with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify for the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) to make their energy payments more affordable. Additional eligibility requirements for PIPP include receiving your primary or secondary heating source from a company regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) and applying for all other energy assistance programs for which you are eligible.

Homeowners can join PIPP at any time during the year and are responsible for the remaining balance when they leave the program. Contact your local gas or electric utility for more specific details on PIPP as well as other assistance and payment plans.

A special component of HEAP is the Winter Crisis Program, which provides assistance once per heating season to low-income households that have been disconnected, face disconnection or have less than a 10-day supply of bulk fuel. The program can also pay for heating system repairs in certain cases. In order to receive emergency benefits, applicants must also sign up for a payment plan with their local utility.

Finally, each year during the heating season, the PUCO issues a Winter Reconnect Order, which allows residential gas and electric customers who have been disconnected or face disconnection the opportunity to pay no more than $175 plus any applicable reconnection fee to have their service restored or maintained. There are no income requirements to use the Winter Reconnect Order, although customers may use the service only once between now and mid-April.

You can receive more information about any of these programs by contacting your local utility provider or by calling the PUCO at 1-800-686-7826. You can also call the Ohio Consumers’ Council at 1-877-742-5622. Additional information about winter heating assistance from a variety of state agencies and departments is also available online at www.winterheat.ohio.gov/20092010/assistance.

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance with heating bills this winter, I hope you will take advantage of any of the programs mentioned above. With help, this season’s temperatures can be a little easier to bear. As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if you have questions or concerns about any state-related matter. You can reach my office by phone at (614) 466-9737, by e-mail at SD07@senate.state.oh.us or by writing State Senator Shannon Jones, Ohio Statehouse, 1 Capitol Square, Columbus, OH 43215. I look forward to hearing from you.

Tax Increase Only Hinders Jobs, Paralyzes Ohio

Tax Increase Only Hinders Jobs, Paralyzes Ohio

 Columbus—State Representative Peter Beck (R-Mason) today denounced the passage of House Bill 318, a budget related measure that will retroactively raise taxes by nearly $900 million further diminishing the potential for job growth throughout Ohio.

 “While I am relieved that a budget agreement has been agreed to, it is disheartening to see Governor Strickland and House Democrats rely on revenues to come from Ohio families and small businesses,” said Beck.  “House Bill 318 lacks a long term solution.  This band-aid legislative measure will only paralyze Ohio at a time when reevaluation and reform should drive the debate in Columbus.”

 Governor Strickland and House Democrats supported the 4.2 percent retroactive tax increase while ignoring House Republican calls for waste reduction and government accountability. With a heavier burden being forced upon the shoulders of entrepreneurs, House Republicans fear the effect this tax increase will have on Ohio's long-term job potential.

 Small businesses have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years, according to the Small Business Association. They also employ approximately half of all workers in the U.S. and pay 44 percent of total private payroll.

House Republicans believe that raising taxes in this economy will ruin Ohio's competitiveness in creating jobs and attracting new business opportunities. With one of the top ten highest state income tax rates in the country, further raising Ohio's income taxes will compel families and businesses relocate elsewhere.

The measure passed the House 54-42.

Police Search For Carlisle Man Missing Since December

  
CARLISLE, Ohio – Police have issued a missing adult alert for a Carlisle, Ohio man who has been missing since December 18.

Police say Jeffrey Pottinger, 45, was last seen at his home around 2 p.m. that day. Police were told he left without money or his medication – and that he left to “think about things.”

Pottinger is described as a white male, 6 feet tall, weighing 190 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.  Police say he may have driven a black 1997 Toyota Corolla with Ohio license plates BDP 8389.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Carlisle Police at (937) 425-2525 or call 911.