Energy Environmental Blog

Local Opposition to Tax Increases

Written by Greg Russell | Oct 13, 2012 10:58:57 AM

We've reported previously on efforts to raise taxes on Ohio's oil and gas producers (see here, e.g.).  Bloomberg Businessweek has an interesting article, pointing out local opposition to those increases that drive tax revenue away from the producing areas:  "In Ohio, many Carroll residents are up in arms over a proposal by Republican Gov. John Kasich to raise severance — or taxes on high-volume drillers — and then share the wealth from the state's oil and gas boom through an income tax cut. *** 'I'm not for supporting everybody else with what we're doing, when this has been an area that's been depressed for a long time and nobody's done anything to help us along the way,' said Amy Rutledge, who directs the visitors' bureau and local chamber. 'Why should Appalachia Ohio support the rest of the state?'"