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Townships should be funded equally

DEAR EDITOR:

Will Ohio townships receive funds? In the American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding, specific allocations were made to local governments so they could continue to provide essential services. The language in the bill allowed states to decide if township governments would be receiving the funding.

The American Rescue Plan has been transformational in the recovery of our nation after coronavirus.

Money was put in people’s pockets in the form of $1,400 relief checks, additional unemployment was continued at $300 per week and funds were put into the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which has been so critical for the survival of small businesses throughout the pandemic.

Historic investments were made in our nation’s children in the form of refundable child tax credits that will bring half of American children out of poverty.

Recently, the Ohio State Legislature attempted to clarify that township are in fact vital operations of governments to the 4 million Ohioans that call townships home, but turned the debate to provide critical resources into local governments into a debate about vaccines fueled by misinformation.

Senate Bill 111 was amended by Ohio Republicans to include a provision about vaccines after hearing testimony from so-called “doctors.” Mike DeWine said he would veto that bill, hampering the distribution to all levels of government as intended.

It’s time for the people of townships to start getting treated equally, regardless of their choice and form of governing.

TOM SHAY

Leavittsburg

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