The Ohio Catholic Conference and the Diocese of Toledo are asking people in the state of Ohio to take action on the State Budget Bill (HB1) that must be passed by July 1. The bill is now in Conference Committee.

Currently the budget is projected to be $3.2 billion short. The governor has proposed new cuts that will have a severe impact on human service programs for Ohioʼs most vulnerable residents and parents who choose nonpublic schools for their children.

Substantial cuts are proposed in programs that provide food, mental health services, childcare, elder services, health clinic services and unemployment services.

$59 million in cuts over the next two years have also been proposed in two important line items that support children enrolled in Catholic schools: Auxiliary Services and Administrative Cost Reimbursement (200511, 200532). Students in an average-sized Catholic school will receive $40,000 - $100,000 less in resources and services in 2009/2010 unless the proposed changes are reversed.

Read the Action Alert on the State Budget from the Ohio Catholic Conference at http://www.ohiocathconf.org/I/Budget/parishactalertbudget609.pdf.

The Catholic Conference of Ohio is asking legislators to prioritize the needs of the poor and most vulnerable, and to support Catholic schools, hospitals, nursing homes and social service programs.

Time is of the essence.
 The Ohio Catholic Conference is asking people to call or e-mail their State Senators and State Representatives before June 30 to convey the following message:

I am opposed to harmful cuts in human services programs. 
I am opposed to $59 million in cuts to programs helping students in Catholic schools.

Find your legislators by your zip code at http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/.

Find Ohio legislators in our diocese at http://www.ohiocathconf.org/L/ToledoLegislature.pdf.

Find Ohio General Assembly Legislators by Catholic Schools at http://www.ohiocathconf.org/I/Legcontact/ToledoSchools.pdf.

Find/contact Ohio General Assembly Legislators by your Parish http://www.ohiocathconf.org/I/Budget/parishactalertbudget609.pdf.

Contact the governor at http://www.governor.ohio.gov/Contact/tabid/153/Default.aspx.

Contact your legislators by phone at the Statehouse at 800-282-0253.