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Gentile stands up for area citizens

To the editor:

On behalf of the Yorkville-Tiltonsville-Rayland coalition, Tiltonsville Mayor Kris Prati, Rayland Mayor Tammy Morelli and I write in strong support of state Sen. Lou Gentile’s efforts to restore funding to our local communities and schools and applaud him for taking a stand against the governor’s two-year budget.

Senate Republicans, along with Gov. John Kasich, have made it clear what their top priority is – to provide huge tax breaks to people in big cities at the expense of small villages and our children. While we have seen the wealthiest Ohioans receive tax cuts, the governor and Senate leaders have slashed funding for local governments and our schools and have shifted the tax burden onto local property taxpayers.

Last week, Gentile, D-Steubenville, led the effort at the Statehouse to restore the Local Government Fund, which for years was used to help small and rural local villages pay for important services like police and fire protection. Unfortunately, the governor and Senate leaders blocked this effort.

Their opposition to Gentile’s proposal will again result in local taxpayers carrying the tax burden. Since the state’s coffers are flush with a huge surplus and a $1.8 billion rainy day fund capable of providing the necessary funds, why are we still struggling to provide local services? We should not have to ask local taxpayers to pay more in property taxes, especially our seniors on fixed incomes.

With the budget failing to provide support for public education and local communities in his district, Gentile rightfully opposed the Senate’s version of the budget. We would like to thank Gentile for standing up for our citizens, the taxpayers and our children.

Blair Closser

Yorkville mayor

(Editor’s note: The letter was signed by all three mayors.)

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