DEAR EDITOR:

Ohioans are focused on affordability as we head into the political season. At the top of that list is property taxes. So much so, that abolishment of property taxes may appear on the ballot. Whether it does make the ballot or not — every single candidate for office needs to answer two questions with specificity.

If the initiative passes, how will you — specifically — address the financial fallout for local jurisdictions.

If the initiative fails, how will you make home ownership affordable for all Ohioans.

A simple “FOR” or “AGAINST” the initiative is not enough. It’s a cop out — no matter your litany of reasoning. That litany of reasons will not solve the problem. They are excuses for not solving the problem.

Voters deserve real plans, real numbers, real mechanisms specifically identified. We deserve solutions. What mechanism will you propose to replace the revenue and what will it cost the average family? Will you make cuts — be specific? “Fraud, waste, and abuse” is not an answer. Where is the gravy train and who’s getting our tax dollars that shouldn’t?

As we have learned, “trickle down economics” doesn’t work, we’ve also learned that “privatizing government” has failed to save us money. It’s become politicized, monetized, and more costly.

Will you support raising sales or income taxes to replace the lost revenues on the local level? or the state level? How much will be needed? Who will pay it and on what? And more importantly, who isn’t going to be paying for it. And, how do we reconcile state funding systems that have been ruled unconstitutional?

Will you change the way we allocate existing revenues on the state level in order to properly fund local needs? Will we see an end to Corporate Welfare programs that eat up about $68 billion in taxes paid to the state and send those funds to compensate local jurisdictions for the lost revenues used for schools, public safety, roads, and the local government fund, as mandated by the Ohio Constitution? Or will we opt to cut Medicaid funding for our elderly, disabled and children in order to replace the property tax revenues?

This is not an election for ideologies or partisanship. It is an election in search of answers for making Ohio affordable again. Voters deserve and need solutions. Put them on the table and let voters decide which candidate proposes the best solutions.

CARRIE R. DAVIS

director, Greater Community Groups, Inc.

Cincinnati