Valley leaders voiced their opposition Thursday to a tax proposal by John Kasich, Ohio's Republican candidate for governor.
Democrats claimed Kasich is in favor of eliminating the state's income tax. Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams and the head of the union covering the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department said Kasich's plan is reckless and would be a burden to local governments.
Both officials said they worry the cuts would eliminate needed funding from the state to local governments.
"I believe it's the height of irresponsibility to propose the elimination of a source of revenue and not then specifically talk about how you're going to replace that," Williams said. "So if there's a way of a plan, we haven't heard it and I'm exceptionally concerned about that."
But a spokesman for the candidate tells us the measure being discussed was proposed by a state lawmaker -- and has never been part of Kasich's campaign.
The spokesman adds the income tax measure itself was defeated months ago, and is no longer even being considered.
Recent polls show Kasich, a former Columbus-area Congressman, is in a tight race with incumbant Democrat Governor Ted Strickland.
