The Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.
Chernobyl.
Iran-Contra.
These were all in the news in 1986. The cost of a U.S. postal stamp was 22 cents, half of what it is today. It was also the last time the state of Ohio invested less than $8 million in the Ohio Historical Society. Nevertheless, Governor Strickland’s new FY 2010-11 budget framework, unveiled late Friday, June 19, would reduce the state budget for the Society from $13.5 million in 2008 to as little as $7.5 million annually each of the next two years, a reduction of 45 percent.
This would be a disinvestment of truly historic proportions in Ohio’s history. We simply cannot allow one of Ohio’s greatest strengths – its history – take a giant leap in the wrong direction. The Governor and state lawmakers have very difficult decisions to make between now and June 30. The economy and state budget are the worst in a generation and the Ohio Historical Society fully expects that some level of state budget cuts are unavoidable. The state’s general revenue figures have dipped to 2002 levels, yet the state is prepared to shrink funding for its history to1986 levels? Is this acceptable to you, Ohio?
We’ve been told that education is being protected in this budget. But the Governor’s proposal would slash the budget of the Ohio Historical Society – charged with helping to educate Ohio’s school children about history, train social studies teachers, maintaining dozens of the state’s authentic historical sites and many other educational efforts – to unprecedented lows.
It is important to realize that there is still time to change this outcome. We’ve asked for your help these past several weeks and we thank the roughly 1,000 of you who responded. But we are down to the last week before the next two-year state budget is enacted. We ask that you call your state legislator and tell them to restore funding for historic sites, local history and education.
Use the tools on this website to contact the Governor, your state Senator and your state Representative.
Get the word out on your social networking sites
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper
Filed under: HistoryMatters | Tagged: advocacy, Budget, Ohio Historical Society |
Save Ohio History 
It has been said that those who refuse to learn from history will be forced to repeat it. By going back to 1986 funding levels for the Ohio Historical Society, Governor Strickland may be doing just that. However, he will not be the only one negatively affected by this – all Ohioans will. Therefore, we must respectively ask him to reconsider this, and to provide the funds necessary to maintain a strong, vibrant Historical Society that may be of benefit to all Ohioans.
[…] to slash a total of $227.3 million over the next two years from the state’s Public Library Fund. (Save Ohio History) [1986 was the] last time the state of Ohio invested less than $8 million in the Ohio Historical […]