Policy Matters Ohio

Yesterday’s election included local ballot measures related to data centers in 18 Ohio communities. In all 18 of them, a majority of voters opted to restrict, regulate, or oppose data centers. Policy Matters Ohio Executive Director Hannah Halbert issued the following statement: “Ohioans used yesterday’s local ballot measures to weigh in on the growing impact […]

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This piece was originally published on Cleveland.com on November 1, 2026. In small towns, suburbs and urban centers throughout the state, everyday Ohioans have formed grassroots campaigns to raise concerns about the rapid growth of hyperscale data centers — and often to oppose data center development in their communities. And yet, with Ohio’s 136th General […]

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$4B: Amount of state revenue that could be generated annually with any one of the Fair Share tax proposals included in our recent report. With help from our friends at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, we analyzed three different models of a progressive state income tax — none of which would impact the […]

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Census data indicate federal cuts will jeopardize critical services for Ohio families Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released data from the 2025 American Community Survey (ACS). The data allow state- and local-level analysis of federal policies’ impacts on everyday Ohioans. Data became available only after a six-week delay to accommodate federal rule changes. Policy Matters […...

This piece was originally published by the Fines and Fees Justice Center as part of Youth Justice Action Month 2026. Of the many counterproductive and unfair financial sanctions used by the justice system, youth “pay-to-stay” fees, which require children and families to pay for their stays in detention or placement, are among the most egregious.  In […]

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