Ohio Governor Race Centers On Cost Of Living
Candidates propose tax cuts, utility rebates, and debt restructuring to address rising prices in the November election.
By Lucas Chen ·
Dr. Amy Acton plans to issue executive orders on her first day in office to lower energy bills and provide immediate relief on property taxes. The Democrat aims to make life affordable again by targeting housing costs and utility payments before her second day begins.
Acton has detailed a specific financial package for working families. Her plan includes a tax cut that would return approximately $1,800 to a family of four earning $60,000 annually. She also proposes a child tax credit of $1,000 per year for children up to age six and $500 for other minors in households earning up to $85,000.
The proposal extends to an earned income credit, a rebate for recent property tax increases, and an expansion of the homestead exemption. Acton states she will fund these measures by reallocating state budget money away from special interest groups.
"It isn't a matter of there not being the money; it's what you put the money to," Acton said. She also plans to renegotiate state debt, claiming the state can achieve immediate relief on that front.
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy took a different approach during a campaign stop on Friday. He emphasized fighting for lower costs and bigger paychecks. Ramaswamy highlighted his work with the legislature to suspend the state gas tax, a measure he described as providing affordability relief for families.
Ramaswamy proposes phasing out the income tax over the next decade. He also wants to roll back property taxes to 2020 levels and cap their future growth. He argues that schools performed better during that period, suggesting a rollback is reasonable. He plans to fund these cuts by reducing government bloat and consolidating public universities.
Libertarian candidate Don Kissick and his running mate James Mills propose eliminating property taxes entirely. They prefer local consumption-based taxes instead. The team stated that balancing the budget and ending corporate welfare for large institutions would save money for Ohioans.
Voters across the state report that basic necessities consume a larger portion of their paychecks. Linette Roberts, who lives in Cleveland, said everything is going up and needs to come down. JT Regan noted that gas prices at the pump feel like a rip-off, while Dawn Perry said she has cut groceries from her budget despite the recent gas tax break.
Source: News 5 Cleveland (WEWS)
