Tight budgets for the city of Toledo and Lucas County have both local government bodies drawing down the rainy day fund to balance proposed spending with anticipated revenue. Toledo proposes a $28 million transfer from the budget stabilization fund while Lucas County expects to take just over $12 million from their savings account.

Both city and county officials say Ohio government policies are a big part of the local government budget shortfalls. The budget challenges facing city and county government were detailed last Sunday in comprehensive report by Blade reporters Alice Momany and Alex Bracken.

The Blade Editorial Board has been harshly critical of cuts by state government to the Local Government Fund that was historically far more generous than it has been since Gov. John Kasich s

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