Town Hall Draws Residents to Talk About State Budget, SB5 and More

Residents of five cities expressed their concerns over school budget cuts, voiced their frustrations about Senate Bill 5 and asked questions about other state issues at Tuesday night's Town Hall.

State Rep. Nan Baker invited residents of District 16, which is made up of Bay Village, Fairview Park, Rocky River, North Olmsted and Westlake, at to hear about the issues facing the community.

State Budget

Baker stressed that jobs are still her priority, but said the state budget has been the most pressing issue in Columbus.

“We can’t print the money; we can’t borrow the money; we need to balance the budget,” Baker said.

The House of Representatives is considering amendments to Gov. John Kasich’s proposed state budget this week. So far, over 1,000 have been made. State representatives will vote next week, she said, and the budget will then head to the Senate.

“We need to make sure no one gets hurt too badly, but everyone needs to share the sacrifice,” Baker said of the efforts to fix the state’s $8 billion deficit.

Baker was joined by State Rep. Dave Hall, R-97, of Holmes County, who provided additional information on the budget process. Hall is also a member of the house finance and appropriations committee, which is responsible for conducting state budget hearings starting Monday.

School budget cuts

Several residents had questions about cuts in education funding. Westlake City Schools stand to lose $6.3 million over the next two years under the proposed state budget.

Baker said to alleviate the pain for districts like Westlake, she has added an amendment to cap funding cuts to school districts at 20 percent.

“I’m saying the governor shouldn’t keep cutting the little bit of funding we get and send those districts back to the ballot to ask the residents for more funding,” she said. “That’s the wrong attitude in my opinion, and I’m cautiously optimistic we can make this amendment stick.”

Senate Bill 5

Tensions rose in the room when a North Olmsted police officer asked Baker about her reasoning behind the vote for Senate Bill 5. Baker said that while she understands the difficulties it will pose for union workers, it was a necessary change.

“We need to be able to give the mayors and superintendents some relief,” she said. “Everyone is affected. This is just a case where there needs to be some reform. This isn’t a big company make profits here, it’s the taxpayers that are hurting.”

A Westlake resident and teacher in North Ridgeville asked if Baker and other representatives are making the same kinds of concessions workers are being asked to make. Baker said that state representatives pay 15 percent of their healthcare.

Attendees also asked questions about oil drilling, pensions, privatizing prisons, school vouchers and more.