TEL Amendment

The Tax and Expenditure Limitation (TEL) amendment to the Ohio Constitution will be on the ballot November 7. Supporters feel the TEL will reign in 'out of control' government spending and reduce tax increases. Opponents feel the TEL is a poorly written amendment that could harm local government's ability to develop and harm Ohio's education and other resources. The TEL amendment was based on Colorado's 1992 Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) which was suspended by general referendum in 2005.

The TEL issue is complex but vitally important to the Region, and all communities and educational facilities. To help interested parties stay on top of some of the issues, MVRPC has set up a TEL resources page with the following documents and links.

The Center for Community Solutions Sponsoring Local TEL Fiscal Impact Training for the Miami Valley on May 16, 2006. Prior registration required.

Tax Expenditure Limitation (“TEL”) Amendment contains the full text of the Amendment.

The Center for Community Solutions has developed a spreadsheet (MS Excel required) to help local governments analyze what effect the TEL would have had on past years budgets.

On May 4, 2006, MVRPC Board passed a resolution opposing the TEL amendment. This MSWord document is a generic resolution template available for other member jurisdictions who also wish to oppose the TEL amendment.

The Ohio Municipal League April 24, 2006 Legislative Bulletin is comprised of memos outlining problematic issues for municipal and other local governments.

The Coalition for Ohio's Future has provided generic content (MSWord or plain text) for individuals to use to write letters to local newspapers opposing the TEL amendment.

The Coalition for Ohio's Future is a broad-based, bi-partisan organization including teachers and other educators, firefighters, police, elected officials, concerned citizens, social service organizations, business people, doctors and other health professionals, labor unions, senior citizens, faith-based organizations and many others all dedicated to defeating the TEL Amendment.

TEL Increases Federal Government’s Influence over Ohio Spending Priorities is a position paper by the Center for Community Solutions in Cleveland, Ohio.

"Ohio Legislature Should Wash Its Hands of TABOR" is an article by Richard Sheridan, Financial Consultant for The Center for Community Solutions which explains in detail the different Issues involved with TABOR.

MORPC TEL Paper Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commissions report on the TEL proposals, modeled after Colorado’s TABOR Amendment (Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights), how it will attempt to cap state expenditures and provide tax refunds to Ohio taxpayers and the impact a Tax Expenditure Limit would have on MORPC members.

"TEL The Truth" is published by Citizens For Tax Reform and presents support for the TEL in a Myth/Fact format.

TEL Amendment Frequently Asked Questions & Answers is published by Citizens For Tax Reform.

"Flawed By Design: A Review of the Proposed Tax and Expediture Limitation Amendment" is a Policy Matters Ohio report. The analysis points out how it would create radical changes in the way government operates, and how some provisions may prove to be unworkable from a practical standpoint.

"The Coalition for Ohio's Future: The Ohio TABOR Proposal" presents major elements of the proposed constitutional amendment.

"The Ohio TABOR Proposal" is by John R. Corlett, Senior Fellow, The Center for Community Solutions presents the key elements of TABOR as well as how the State Spending Cap would impact Local Communities.

Many Ohio newpapers have published OP/ED pieces against the TEL amendment.

"The Flawed 'Population Plus Inflation' Formula: Why TABOR’s Growth Formula Doesn’t Work" from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

ENDORSEMENT FORM To Oppose TABOR or TEL Constitutional Amendment (will open in MS Word)

"Data Suggests Ohio Shouldn’t Follow Colorado’s Lead" by The Center for Community Solutions compares Ohio with Colorado on a variety of measures.

"A Review of Tax Expenditure Limitations and their Impact on State & Local Government in Ohio" prepared by Cleveland State University.

"A Lesson for Ohio: Colorado Voters Decide to Suspend Spending Limits" from Policy Matters Ohio.

Initiative Petition Submitted to the Attorney General for Certification of Summary of Proposed Amendment to the Constitution

"TABOR: A Taxpayer Bill of Goods?" discusses how the TABOR Amendment would dramatically limit state investment in education, health care, and economic development activities.

"In A League Of Their Own: Colorado’s TABOR And Ohio’s Proposal Are More Restrictive Than Other Limits" from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

"A State of Decline: What A TABOR Would Mean for Ohio" from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

"Education and Investment not TABOR fueled Colorado's Economic Growth in 1990's," from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, finds “little support” for the notion that TABOR sparked Colorado’s economic growth in
the 1990s.

The Buckeye Institute provides many resources supporting the TEL amendment: