Cincinnati Enquirer
Bill would expand secrecy on economic development deals
Jun. 4, 2013
By Chrissie Thompson 

Local governments could discuss economic development in secret under a change to the Ohio Senate’s latest version of the 2013-2015 budget. 

The amendment, unveiled Tuesday in the Senate Finance Committee, would create an exception to the Open Meetings Law: Governing bodies could call closed sessions to discuss businesses’ requests for tax breaks. 

Committee Chair Scott Oelslager, R-North Canton, said those discussions include businesses’ “proprietary information.” Requests to keep that information secret should be honored because it relates to job creation, Oelslager said. 

Opponents of economic development-related secrecy say Ohioans need access to discussions and records. 

“We learn again and again and again, unfortunately, that when things are secret, bad things can happen,” said Dennis Hetzel, executive director of the Ohio Newspaper Association, of which The Enquirer is a member. Hetzel on Tuesday sent a letter to every member of the Senate requesting the amendment be removed. 

The secrecy required for economic development has been under debate recently in the General Assembly. On Tuesday, Gov. John Kasich signed a bill limiting Auditor Dave Yost’s access to the records of JobsOhio, Ohio’s private economic development corporation… 

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