Our cities give people from all over the world the many reasons to travel to our State. We support the airports, museums, and cultural attractions that make Ohio the "heart of it all".

And importantly, we represent the diversity of our great State.

Today, we are here to advocate for the priorities that we believe will not only ensure the success of Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo, but will ensure success for all Ohioans.

No Further Reductions to the Local Government Fund
Each of our cities has been affected by the overall economic slowdown. Income tax revenues from employment have declined in 5 out of our 6 cities. Our investment income is down, and overall we are less well off than we were a year ago. Nevertheless, we must pay for programs that are mandated by the state and federal governments - - that is, our expenses are fixed while revenues to support them decline.

Our cities rely on the Local Government Fund to keep Fire Companies open, to pay for our Police Officers, to keep our roads safe, and to make our parks clean and fun. The State Legislature has frozen and cut the funds available to cities, while at the same time, cities have been hurt by the downturn in the economy. Service delivery is in jeopardy, and we encourage the State of Ohio to make no further cuts to the Local Government Fund, and to remove the freeze on the State's contribution to our cities.

Homeland Security is a Priority in Ohio Cities
Our Police and Fire personnel are the likely first responders to terrorist attacks in the State, and we must ensure that they are trained, well equipped, and appropriately funded.

Ohio's biggest cities must have direct access to federal funds provided to the State of Ohio. The Federal government is proposing the distribution of 3.5 billion dollars for local defense, and we need the support of our state government to demand that the federal government not water-down these critical appropriations by funneling these monies through more layers of bureaucracy. The State of Ohio needs to examine a risk-based distribution of federal homeland security funds.

We have agreed that we will use our best efforts to aid each other to respond to a natural disaster or terrorist event. We need the support of the General Assembly to enact legislation that will enable the easy cooperation among our safety forces. We must strengthen state-local government relationships by passing effective mutual aid legislation, improving data and information sharing, and encouraging coordination for first-responder exercises.

Finally, we must be fairly represented on all boards, commissions, and task forces that address homeland security. Urban representation provides for a critical perspective in planning for any crisis that may face the State of Ohio.

Urban Priorities

The General Assembly needs to be pro-City
In recent years, the Ohio legislature has been more willing to compromise our cities' rights to adopt local laws that best suit our local needs. We need a General Assembly that is responsive to urban needs. At times, legislation has been introduced that represents nothing less than an assault on our cities' ability to govern ourselves.

Further, some legislators would decimate the budgets of Ohio's big cities by requiring a further sharing of income tax revenues among suburban communities.

It's time for the General Assembly to listen to us: to recognize the power of our metropolitan areas as the driver of the economy of the entire state. The legislature must let us run our cities, and give us the tools to do so effectively.

Cities Need Development Equity
We need to put Ohioans back to work. The State needs to be our partner in growing the economy of the cities. The Clean Ohio Fund was a step in the right direction-- an innovative approach to reclaim the infrastructure of urban areas. We need to fulfill the recommendations of the Governor's Urban Revitalization Task Force.

We support School Initiatives
The Mayors urge local support of school levies that will be on the ballot November 5. We urge the support of those issues which will provide the local share of the match to state funds that have been set aside to re-build the schools of Ohio's major cities. As mayors, we will continue to discuss the important issue of education, and we will make it a priority of our combined efforts. Ohio cannot be a great state without great schools.