The focus is on Ohio’s fiscal future

The Ohio Urban University Program (UUP) will present the second in a series of discussions with experts on timely topics affecting the fiscal future of the State of Ohio. The forum, entitled "National Perspectives on State and Local Finance in an Economic Crisis," will be held on Tuesday, March 3 at The Athletic Club of Columbus, Crystal Room, 136 East Broad Street, Columbus, from 4:00-5:30 p.m. There will be a reception immediately following. Check-in for the forum begins at 3:30 p.m.

The forum is designed to provide national and statewide insight on the state of the economic crisis, the current strategies circulating to address the crisis, and the implications on state and local fiscal and economic conditions. Panelists will include:

• Christopher Hoene, Ph.D., Director, Center for Policy and Research, National League of Cities (NLC), Washington, D.C. Chris Hoene leads NLC’s research efforts, including its survey and public opinion activities, and targeted projects on topics such as public finance, housing, and immigration. Dr. Hoene also oversees NLC’s policy development work, and works with NLC’s CityFutures Program and International Programs.
• Brian Sigritz, Staff Associate, National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), Washington, D.C. In his position at NASBO, Brian Sigritz tracks and analyzes economic, tax and revenue trends, and handles NASBO activities related to performance measures and management, privatization, and disaster responses. He additionally monitors the fiscal health of the states, and edits and produces the State Expenditure Report annually.
• Brian Perera, Finance Director, Majority Caucus, Ohio Senate. Brian Perera staffs the Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee, the Controlling Board, and special committees appointed with regard to appropriation issues. He also works closely with the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Perera has additionally worked with the Lottery Profits Review Commission, the Joint Committee to Implement State Issue 1 (state bond issuance for local public school building projects), the Joint Select Committee on Volume Cap, the Medicaid Managed Care Study Committee, and the former Joint Committee on Federal Funds.

The UUP Forums in Columbus are presented by the Ohio Urban University Program (UUP), a program of the University System of Ohio and the Ohio General Assembly. The UUP is a unique network that links the resources of Ohio's urban universities with the communities and students they serve in a cooperative effort to boost economic development efforts in the state's urban regions. UUP universities are Cleveland State University, The University of Akron, The University of Cincinnati, Kent State University, The Ohio State University, The University of Toledo, Wright State University, and Youngstown State University.

The forums are presented free of charge, but registration is required. Please register at www.urban.csuohio.edu/uup/.

For additional information or questions about registration, contact Barbara Benevento at b.benevento@csuohio.edu.

For additional information or questions about the UUP Forum Programs in Columbus, contact Claudette Robey at c.robey@csuohio.edu.

# # #