Ohio Senate's version of biennial budget includes an important provision...

The Ohio Senate added an important provision into the state’s biennial budget last week that involves the abilities of municipalities to set up government-owned networks (GONs). While municipalities and the organizations that represent them have been up in arms, this provision is actually good for the taxpayer. Here’s why: By limiting municipalities from establishing GONs, we’ll ensure that taxpayer funds don’t go towards competing with the private sector.

This provision ensures that, in places where the private sector already is providing service, municipalities can’t spend tax dollars on duplicating that infrastructure. This is a common sense measure to ensure that Ohioan’s tax dollars are spent wisely. Let’s hope this provision makes it through the conference committee that will create the final version of the budget.