Wednesday, November 30, 2005
What’s The Only Thing Growing Faster Than Poverty in Ohio?
Answer: Ohio’s cumulative balance of unspent TANF funds.
The most recent issue of Budget Footnotes, published by the well respected Ohio Legislative Services Commission, reports that Ohio’s TANF reserve has continued to climb from this same time last year. At the end of federal fiscal year 2004, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported a record $836 million in cumulative unspent TANF funds. The balance climbed even higher by the end of federal fiscal year 2005 (September 30, 2005) – Ohio’s cumulative balance of unspent TANF funds is now $914 million, a $78 million increase from a year ago. The U.S. Census reported earlier this year that Ohio was one of only seven states in which the poverty rate increased between 2003 and 2004. The combination of unspent funds and rising need has led Ohio House of Representatives member Jimmy Stewart to introduce Ohio House Bill 372 to increase the cash assistance grant by $100. It’s a measure that’s long overdue.
The most recent issue of Budget Footnotes, published by the well respected Ohio Legislative Services Commission, reports that Ohio’s TANF reserve has continued to climb from this same time last year. At the end of federal fiscal year 2004, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported a record $836 million in cumulative unspent TANF funds. The balance climbed even higher by the end of federal fiscal year 2005 (September 30, 2005) – Ohio’s cumulative balance of unspent TANF funds is now $914 million, a $78 million increase from a year ago. The U.S. Census reported earlier this year that Ohio was one of only seven states in which the poverty rate increased between 2003 and 2004. The combination of unspent funds and rising need has led Ohio House of Representatives member Jimmy Stewart to introduce Ohio House Bill 372 to increase the cash assistance grant by $100. It’s a measure that’s long overdue.
