Join CCAO/CEAO and OSU Extension for a joint meeting on "Effective Government Through Collaboration" to be held August 19-21, 2009 in Medina County (Wadsworth).  Taking tight county budgets into consideration, OSU Extension invited CCAO/CEAO to meet together instead of holding both the CCAO/CEAO Annual Summer Conference and OSU Extension's County Commissioners Days.  Registration materials will be mailed next week. 

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray's office will be having a Save Our Homes Summit on July 17, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Ohio Department of Transportation, 1980 West Broad Street (U.S. 40), in Columbus. 

The Ohio Department of Taxation is issuing updated estimates of the calendar year 2009 distributions from the state Local Government Fund (LGF) and the state Public Library Fund (PLF).  In addition, ODT will soon be posting an updated explanatory document regarding the updates estimates for 2009.

The first census took place in 1790 to determine the number of seats each state would have in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The census also was created to gain a better understanding of where people lived and to establish  patterns of settlement as the nation grew.  Today, the census is still vitally important.  An online interactive census website has been established to serve citizens and local communities by providing additional information regarding the 2010 Census and offering ways to partner with Complete County Committees.

CCAO, in coopration with the State Auditor's Office and the County Auditors' Association of Ohio, sponsored training on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Friday, June 26.  Copies of the seminar handouts are attached. 

CCAO recognizes the difficult decisions facing the Ohio General Assembly and Administration by providing counties with resources to help manage county budgets in these difficult economic times, as well as protecting abused and neglected children.  A chart listing the Conference Committee budget priorities and other issues impacting county government is linked below.

The Conference Committee process has begun for the budget. Please help us advocate to your representatives and senators how important our safety net programs are to our citizens and that the Committee must sustain them in these difficult economic times. See the following priorities letter and comparison chart for the details.

The CCAO Service Corporation has announced a new energy program designed to help keep your natural gas costs under control.  CCAOSC has partnered with Palmer Energy to help manage a new natural gas program for member counties designed specifically to help save on your natural gas bill by utilizing the strength of group buying.  As you recall, the CCAOSC established a natural gas program in 2000 that saved the 30-member counties over $7.4 million in gas commodities.  For more information, please contact Kirk Mizerek, Palmer Energy Vice President, at 419/539-9180 or Tom Strup, CCAO Deputy Director of Operations, at 614/220-7978.

Athens County Commissioner Lenny Eliason has formally announced his candidacy for the office of 2nd Vice President of the National Association of Counties (NACo).  Lenny is a full-time county commissioner and wants to spread the message about the importance of public service, the role of county government, and the value of workking collaboratively at all levels of government.  Lenny and his family know that public service is not only a privilege, but also an amazing opportunity to help others.  Join fellow Ohioans and show your support for Lenny for NACo 2nd Vice President!

This paper summarizes the legislative policy of the Coalition of Local Governments and Services which supports extending the current replacement of TPP through 2011 and securing a long term replacement mechanism for lost TPP taxes.  In addition, this paper also summarizes the history of TPP and the revenue impact resulting from the loss of TPP under HB 66.  CCAO is one of 15 local government associations that together comprise the Coalition of Local Governments and Services. This paper was sent by the Coalition to all candidates for the 128th General Assembly.