Issues in Focus : Investing in Our Children

The Path to Progress

Lower the Tax Burden of Ohioans. To create jobs and attract people to live in Ohio, we've got to be competitive. Letting people keep more of their hard-earned dollars in their pockets is something Kevin fights for.
Keep State Spending Under Control. Constantly evaluate administrative practices and programs and make changes to ensure efficiency. Show fiscal restraint even in good economic times. Build up a reserve fund for emergencies, then return excess revenue to the taxpayers.
Establish Priorities of Government. Identify specific results that we want to achieve in Ohio (i.e., Improve student achievement in k-12). Develop indicators for each result that citizens can use to determine whether the state is making progress toward these results.
Stop Appraisal Creep. Had enough of property taxes? Appraisals are driving up property taxes and pricing people out of their own homes. Control this unvoted "Taxation by Valuation" by capping the growth in the taxable value of property for all homeowners at 2% per year.
Help Seniors in Need Manage Property Taxes. Give relief to seniors by either expanding the Homestead Exemption, or establishing a tax-deferral plan once they turn 60 years of age. Allow seniors to skip paying property taxes until death, amounting to a no-interest loan that is repaid by the estate.

Kevin Coughlin has voted for over $6 billion in property tax relief since 1997.
Since taking office in 1997, state taxes have been cut by over $6.5 billion. About half of that is the form of income tax cuts
Kevin helped craft the current budget, increasing state spending less than any Ohio budget in the last 40 years.
Kevin voted to reform Ohio's antiquated tax code, cutting income taxes for every Ohioan by 21%. Those who make less than $10,000 a year pay nothing. In addition, the plan cuts the sales tax by half a penny and eliminates two job-killing business taxes—the tangible personal property tax and the corporate franchise tax.
Kevin Coughlin has been recognized for his stewardship on fiscal issues. He is a 2004 recipient of the United Conservatives of Ohio's Watchdog of the Treasury Award and the 2002 NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award.