Dear OAHSM Members & Friends of Local History:
This summer, our state lawmakers heard from us when we were upset about state budget cuts to history. They deserve our personal and heartfelt thanks when they help us, too.
OHS received the good word on Dec. 17 that the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 75—the legislation that will create a tax check off and matching grant program in support of local history projects in our state. Give some of your time in the New Year to call or write your state rep. and thank him or her for voting for House Bill 75. Our state representatives will likely be back in their offices on or around Jan. 5., so your best bet is to make your contacts after that date.
The vote was 95 – 1 in favor of the bill. It now moves to the Senate for consideration and so we still have work to do to see that HB 75 becomes law.
When (not IF) House Bill 75 becomes law, it will create a competitive matching grant program to which local historical organizations can apply for grants. The money from the grants will come from individual Ohioans, who will be able to check a box on their state income tax returns indicating that they want a small portion of their tax refund to go to the Ohio Historical Society. The program will be administered by the Ohio Historical Society, but the pool of funding will be committed to local history groups through the grant program. Checking the box on the tax return and donations to the fund are voluntary!
A similar tax check off program for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources generates $500,000 - $800,000 annually for the agency’s nature conservation efforts and since it started in 1984 has raised $22 million.
After you call or write to thank your state representative, make a call to your state senator and ask him or her to support the tax check off bill in the Senate.
For more information about House Bill 75, go to http://capwiz.com/ohiohistory/home/. For contact information for your state representative and senator, go back to http://capwiz.com/ohiohistory/home/ and scroll down ‘til you see “Change My Location.” Put in your ZIP code to find your legislators.
A letter or email of thanks is great, a phone call of thanks is better, and a personal visit and thank you is best. Take a few moments now and thank you state rep.—and thanks! Merry Christmas!
OHS received the good word on Dec. 17 that the Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 75—the legislation that will create a tax check off and matching grant program in support of local history projects in our state. Give some of your time in the New Year to call or write your state rep. and thank him or her for voting for House Bill 75. Our state representatives will likely be back in their offices on or around Jan. 5., so your best bet is to make your contacts after that date.
The vote was 95 – 1 in favor of the bill. It now moves to the Senate for consideration and so we still have work to do to see that HB 75 becomes law.
When (not IF) House Bill 75 becomes law, it will create a competitive matching grant program to which local historical organizations can apply for grants. The money from the grants will come from individual Ohioans, who will be able to check a box on their state income tax returns indicating that they want a small portion of their tax refund to go to the Ohio Historical Society. The program will be administered by the Ohio Historical Society, but the pool of funding will be committed to local history groups through the grant program. Checking the box on the tax return and donations to the fund are voluntary!
A similar tax check off program for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources generates $500,000 - $800,000 annually for the agency’s nature conservation efforts and since it started in 1984 has raised $22 million.
After you call or write to thank your state representative, make a call to your state senator and ask him or her to support the tax check off bill in the Senate.
For more information about House Bill 75, go to http://capwiz.com/ohiohistory/home/. For contact information for your state representative and senator, go back to http://capwiz.com/ohiohistory/home/ and scroll down ‘til you see “Change My Location.” Put in your ZIP code to find your legislators.
A letter or email of thanks is great, a phone call of thanks is better, and a personal visit and thank you is best. Take a few moments now and thank you state rep.—and thanks! Merry Christmas!
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