Uhrichsville, Ohio - City leaders are getting behind an Ohio House bill that seeks to restore state funding to local governments.

Council last week passed a resolution in support of Ohio House Bill 54. The resolution was introduced by Councilman Eric Harmon. He says the bill would reverse recent cuts that have local governments throughout Ohio struggling to pay for essential services.

"Funding cuts have created significant financial shortages at the local level, forcing many eastern Ohio communities like Uhrichsville to tighten their budgets to the point where we can’t adequately fund essential services such as our police and fire departments as well as road maintenance," he says.

Harmon says the cuts have shaved about $250,000 a year from the city’s budget. He says Uhrichsville is now joining other local governments in calling on lawmakers to restore that funding.

"It’s kind of just sitting in a rainy day fund in Columbus, so it’s not really being spent on police departments, fire departments or road maintenance. All three are very important to the people I represent," he says. "We would like to see this passed so local government can effectively support our police and fire departments and pave roads. It’s well-needed money, and we need to put it to good use."

The bill was introduced in the House last month and has since been referred to the Ways and Means Committee. 

STACEY CARMANY, TUSCO TV