Lake County Times

State Senator Jerry C. Cirino (R-Kirtland) has expressed his congratulations to the citizens of Cleveland for successfully defeating Issue 38, the People's Budget Initiative. The initiative, had it been passed, would have allowed an unelected and unaccountable board to control two percent of the city's budget.

In a statement, Cirino commended the voters of Cleveland for their decision, stating, "I congratulate Cleveland voters for not handing $14 million of their city's budget to an illegitimate board. Common sense has prevailed in Cleveland, allowing elected city council members to retain their authority as the proper stewards of taxpayer dollars."

The People's Budget Initiative faced opposition from various quarters, including the editorial board of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The board described the initiative as "ill-conceived, poorly structured, and superficial." Interestingly, the same editorial board also opposes Cirino's Senate Bill 158, a piece of legislation aimed at preventing similar initiatives from being proposed statewide.

Cirino expressed his hope that the Plain Dealer would reconsider its stance on Senate Bill 158, stating, "I hope the Plain-Dealer reconsiders its stance on Senate Bill 158 for the sake of other Ohio communities that may face poorly constructed ideas like Issue 38. This type of proposal could still be pushed in any city in the state, which is why I am still fighting for legislation that protects city budgets from this type of ballot-driven attack on taxpayers."

Senate Bill 158, which has already been passed by the Senate, aims to ensure that local city councils maintain control over their budgets and protect their appropriation power. It also reinforces Ohio municipalities' statutory authority to make financial decisions, thereby safeguarding the budgeting authority of city councils and the financial stability of cities.

Contrary to critics' claims, the bill actually supports the principle of "home rule" rather than subverting it. Cirino emphasized the importance of passing this legislation and expressed optimism that the Ohio House of Representatives would also approve it.

The defeat of the People's Budget Initiative in Cleveland serves as a victory for the elected representatives of the city and the taxpayers they serve. With Senate Bill 158, Cirino aims to protect other cities in Ohio from similar ballot-driven attacks on their budgets, ensuring that local officials retain the authority to make financial decisions that best serve their communities.