Shapiro Warns: Ohio Tax Bills Threaten Public Safety, Local Control in Summit County

In powerful testimony before the Ohio House Ways and Means Committee on June 11, Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro voiced strong opposition to House Bills 309 and 335—legislation she says could devastate essential services across Summit County. The proposed bills, which aim to change the role of budget commissions and eliminate inside millage, could cut $40 million from the county’s general fund and erode the ability of local governments to protect public safety, administer justice, and uphold state-mandated duties. Below is her full statement as delivered to lawmakers. House Ways and Means Committee June 11, 2025 Opponent Testimony – HB 309 Ilene Shapiro, Summit County Executive Chair Roemer, Vice Chair Thomas, Ranking Member Troy and members of the House Ways and  Means Committee, thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony in opposition to House Bill  309.  I proudly serve as the Summit County Executive, representing 31 communities and 540,000  residents. I, along with our Fiscal Officer and Prosecutor, are members of the budget commission. As such, I was concerned to see this proposal which seeks to transform an oversight commission  into a policymaking body.  Requiring a county budget commission to exert authority over what elected county commissioners,  or in Summit County’s case the Executive and Council, may place on the ballot represents a clear  case of overreach. Budget commissions were originally created with a narrow, technical purpose:  to ensure taxing authorities understand how much money their levies will generate each year and  that they do not budget beyond their means. Their role is not—and should not become—a  gatekeeping authority over democratic processes or local policy decisions.  Budget commissions already have authority to reduce millage when warranted but their authority  relies on the input and requests from elected officials who have a fiduciary responsibility to the  requesting taxing authority. Giving budget commissions the power to interfere with what issues  appear on the ballot and interfere with the fiduciary responsibilities of elected officials, undermines  the authority of those officials and, more importantly, the voice of the voters.   HB 309 is just one example in a concerning pattern of hastily introduced legislation about property  tax that has not undergone adequate public scrutiny or expert review. These bills are being fast tracked with little transparency, seemingly on track to be buried in the state budget—an entirely  inappropriate venue for sweeping policy changes that affect governance, elections, and local  autonomy.  Important decisions like these deserve full hearings, stakeholder input, and public debate. They do  not belong hidden in budget negotiations, especially when their impact reaches far beyond fiscal  management and into policymaking. Voters expect a fair, open, and deliberate legislative  process—not backdoor power shifts disguised as budgetary housekeeping.  My deep concerns about HB 309 extend to its inclusion in the suite of tax reform bills offered in House Bill 335. If enacted, HB 335’s abolition of inside millage would cut just over $40 million from Summit County’s General Fund — a loss that will severely cripple our ability to provide  essential public services and fulfill state-mandated functions.  Such significant revenue loss would force us to take drastic actions, including: • Shutting down entire wings of the Summit County Jail, jeopardizing both public safety and  inmate welfare;  • Eliminating prosecutor positions, delaying justice and increasing caseloads beyond  sustainable levels;  • Cutting vital court staff, disrupting judicial operations and access to justice; • Ending sheriff patrols in local communities, leaving neighborhoods without law  enforcement presence or support.  Further, a change to a dependable revenue source that can be used to pay debt service will have an  impact on local government bond ratings state-wide. This will make it more difficult and expensive  to construct critical infrastructure projects that maintain and entice economic development in the  state.   Unlike every other county in Ohio, Summit County cannot raise its permissive sales tax without a  vote of the electorate. We operate our county on a 1/2 % sales tax with no ability to raise it without  a vote. During the Great Recession we eliminated over 1,000 jobs to balance our budget and we  never restored them. This means we will not have the ability to respond quickly to this proposed  fiscal emergency. The loss of another $40 million will leave us with no ability to comply with the  very mandates the state requires us to uphold.  We are aware of this legislature’s interest in pushing local governments to consoli