As we begin development of the 2011-12 CCAO Legislative Platform, we are asking for help from commissioners and our affiliates.  A County Legislative Needs Survey and a list of suggestions CCAO has received since the adoption of the 2009-10 Legislative Platform are provided at the link below.

Over the decades, CCAO has published four editions of the County Commissioners Handbook and distributed copies to counties.  Since the first edition, the Handbook has grown considerably and publishing an updated copy of all chapters in a timely manner is nearly impossible.  Future chapters will only be published on our website.  Recently, Chapter 2- County Structural Options was updated by Eugene Kramer, Esq., an attorney in private practice who specializes in public law and public finance.  Mr. Kramer can be contacted at 614/621-7974.

Recognizing that commissioners and their staff confront a number of daily challenges on a wide variety of topics, CCAO announces a regular series of short and concise seminars this year.  The next session will be held on Wednesday, September 8 on the "Enforcing Weight Limits on County Roads."  All sessions will be held at the CCAO office, 209 East State Street, in Columbus on the "Second Wednesday" of each month.  Seminars will begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude promptly at 12:30 p.m.  There is no charge to attend.  Coffee will be available in the morning and lunch is on your own after the seminar. 

CCAO and OSU Extension are partnering to present four one-day regional seminars in late October  to be held throughout Ohio.  Regional seminars without an overnight stay will lower costs for both organizations, supporting all of our efforts to minimize expenditures during these challenging budget times.  OSU Extension sessions or tours will be customized for each regional meeting.  In addition, a CCAO Policy Roundtable Discussion will be held.  Mark your calendars and plan to attend!

Union County Commissioners Charles Hall, Gary Lee and Tom McCarthy and County Engineer Jeff Stauch will host the next Northwest Ohio County Commissioners and Engineers Association Quarterly Meeting on September 16, 2010 in Marysville.   Updated information is attached.

CCAO has compiled the 2010 Statewide & Legislative Candidates Briefing Booklet  that addresses the challenges facing state and county government to meet the needs of our constituents.  Enhancing the Partnership outlines the importance of a cooperative & collaborative working relationship between the state & county governments, identifies several key policy issues & their impact upon counties, highlights the structure & finance of county government, discusses county government structure & operations, and introduces candidates to CCAO and our services to counties.

On Monday, August 30, CCAO, in conjunction with OSU Extension, hosted a webinar featuring details on SB 232-Wind Energy Legislation.  CCAO Policy Analysts Josh Hahn and John Leutz presented information on the provisions of SB 232, legislation passed in June and designed to encourage development of alternative energy projects, including wind and solar energy, to generate electricity.  The webinar focused on information local governments will need when encountering such projects.

County Advisory Bulletin 2010-01 on Alternative Energy Tax Exemption discusses the authority given to county commissioners to exempt a qualifying energy facility from property taxation and require a payment in lieu of taxes to be made based upon the nameplate capacity of the facility. For more information contact CCAO Policy Analysts John Leutz or Josh Hahn at 614/221-5627.

Lenny Eliason, Athens County Commissioner, was elected 1st Vice President, of  the National Association of Counties (NACo) at the 75th Annual Conference held July 16-20, 2010 in Washoe County, Nevada.  Elected to serve with Eliason were President - Glen Whitley, Tarrant County (TX) Judge; 2nd Vice President - Chris Rodgers, Douglas County (NE) Commissioner; and Immediate Past President - Valerie Brown, Sonoma County (CA) Supervisor. 

The State Budget bill (HB 1) includes a new provision authorizing counties to implement a mandatory cost savings program beginning July 1, 2009.  The mandatory cost saving program permits counties to implement furloughs of all employees not subject to a collective bargaining agreement for up to 80 hours between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010 and an additional 80 hours between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. Click on the link below for more information.

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.