Kent is a community on the rise, with a thriving R1 university, excellent K-12 schools, affordable housing, and a diverse citizenry. Yet, recent economic shifts are threatening our way of life.
Let’s begin with our non-profits, which provide care and support for many of our friends and neighbors. A recent study by the Urban Institute reveals a chilling reality: 70% of Portage County non-profits are at risk due to the freeze on government funding, with a staggering $76,473,940 potentially lost. This represents a net reduction of over 25% in their operating revenue. Take one: Family & Community Services (FC&S), who operates a network of organizations in Kent. Take one: Kent Social Services, who provide 20,000 hot meals and 100,000 lbs of groceries to low-income families through their South Water St. location. Take another: Freedom House, a homeless shelter on Anita Dr. for veterans which provides nearly 2,000 bed-nights of housing to unhoused veterans per year. To families experiencing temporary hardship, these services are invaluable. In 2023, FC&S received over $20m in local, state and federal funding to provide these and countless other services.
Now turning to local jobs and the impact of tariffs: the imposition of counter tariffs by China and Canada on industries like natural gas and mining on April 2, will undeniably impact Portage County residents. Available data show that 472 of our neighbors are employed in private natural resource mining, representing over 1% of our county’s workforce. These tariffs will not only threaten these livelihoods but also drive up costs for all of us: the Yale Budget Lab estimates that the sum total of tariffs will reduce household income for the poorest households by 5.5%, versus 1.9% for the highest-earning households. And if you’re in the market for a car, 25% auto tariffs announced by the administration are estimated to add $3,000 to cars built in the United States, according to Cox Automotive. In a county where increased property taxes are straining residents and especially senior citizens, these additional costs are simply unsustainable.
Last, turning to Medicaid, the health insurance for 17% of county residents. Increasing
Medicaid work requirements, as proposed at state level, will have a devastating impact on our state. The Ohio Department of Medicaid’s own estimates are that 61,000 Ohioans are projected to lose their coverage. People who are sick, disabled, or have unreliable use of the internet may have difficulty showing proof of work. Sadly, these are often the people most in need of services. In an emergency, they may seek care anyway, taking on medical debt that may soon become an impossible hole to come out of. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 100 million Americans already owe $220 billion in medical debt.
These policies are not merely abstract economic theories; they are real-world decisions with devastating consequences for Portage County residents. We cannot stand idly by while our non-profits are devastated, our workers are threatened and our healthcare access is diminished.
Yes, we must get waste, fraud and abuse out of government.
Yes, we must find ways to keep and retain dignified, well-paying working class jobs.
And yes, we need to find ways to balance the rising costs of medical care with the needs of our residents.
But taking a sledgehammer to our social safety net and local economy is not the way. We urge our fellow elected officials, members of the private sector, and everyday citizens, to use their influences to counter these measures. We the undersigned members of Kent City Council say hands off our community.
Signed on,
The Kent City Council:
● Michael DeLeone, Member At-Large
● Gwen Rosenberg, Member At-Large
● Roger Sidoti, Member At-Large
● Jeff Clapper, Ward 6
● Heidi Shaffer Bish, Ward 5
● Chris Hook, Ward 4
● Robin G. Turner, Ward 3
● Jack Amrhein, Ward 2 and President Pro Tem
● Melissa Celko, Ward 1
