Ohio: know the details (Columbus, Cleveland: housing, rent, income)

[Ohioan]

More relevant information on Ohio -- this time on education.

Ohio has the seventh-largest number of adults, ages 25 or older that do not have a high school diploma in the United States.

Quote from Governor Bob Taft in his recent State of the State address: "For every 10 students who start high school in Ohio, only seven will earn a diploma, only five will enroll in a post-secondary institution and of those, fewer than three out of 10 will complete a bachelor's degree within 10 years," Taft said. "Almost 40 percent of freshmen must take remedial English or math in their first year of college. A high school diploma should mean that a student is prepared to succeed in college."

"Ohio is at a crossroads,” -- "At a time when investing in the production of knowledge is vital to our state's economic future, we rank 40th nationally in attainment of bachelor's degrees and 41st in associate-degree attainment. If these trends continue, Ohio will emerge as a backwater in the global economy."

In 2000, only 19% of Ohio’s jobs required a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Ohio is behind almost every other state in the level of financial assistance we provide to families who can't afford higher education, which may be why only a little more than 2 in 10 adults in our entire state are college educated.

2005 survey found the following: 1 is best, 50 worst

1. 49th in affordability of college,
2. 46th in state operating appropriations per student for higher education,
3. 37th in level of increase in higher education spending among the states between 2000 and 2005, and
4. 40th in the nation in terms of percent of people over age 25 with a four-year bachelor’s degree.

As a percent of the Ohio budget, higher education spending peaked in 1978 at 17.7 percent. The percentage of the budget devoted to higher education has fallen each year since 1996, to 11.9 percent in 2004 and an allotted 11.7 percent in 2005

In Ohio, average tuition costs:

$7,508 at public, four-year institutions, 46 percent higher than the national average of $5,132.

$3,175 at public, two-year institutions, 53 percent higher than the national average of $2,076.

Ohio received a grade of F for affordability in Measuring Up 2004, a national report card on higher education.

The share of state higher education expenses paid for by students and families is among the highest in the nation at 48 percent (national average is 36%), ranking Ohio 12th.

Only 16% of all Ohioans earn a bachelors degree or higher. Of the 60% of Ohio high school students that go to college, only 21% actually graduate.

Quote from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s top officer: “The Ohio economy continues to trail the nations, in part because the state’s businesses are afraid to take risks and a lack of commitment to education. We must be open to new ideas, new entrepreneurs and creating a culture that values education. The region is also falling behind the rest of the nation in education and trails the national average of people with college degrees.”

[Ohioan]

Quality of life in Ohio:

Out of the 10 WORST places to live in the entire country – Ohio’s cities held the 3rd, 4th and 6th spot. This according to a new study released (August 2005) by Sperling's BestPlaces.

Ohio is ranked in the bottom one-third (#33) in a report called “Best States for Raising Healthy Kids” from WebMD Medical News.

“Ohio cities found at bottom of list of healthy places.” The latest hit comes from the "6th Annual America’s Healthiest Places" for women, in the December (2005) issue of Self magazine. Self Magazine also declares last-place Cincinnati the "unhealthiest place" among the 100 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. Columbus doesn’t fare much better at ##95, Dayton-Springfield #97, Akron #90, Cleveland #86.

Go to “THE RELOCATION CRIME LAB” from Realtor.com for a real eye-opener on crime in Ohio.

Seventy-five percent of Ohio inmates do not possess a high school diploma and 40% of individuals entering the prison system read below the sixth grade level (Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections).

Between 1982 and 2002, Ohio's prison population increased 164 percent—from 17,147 to 45,284. The flow of prisoners leaving Ohio prisons tripled in 20 years, jumping from 8,522 in 1982 to 25,624 in 2002.

“RECORD YEAR FOR LIQUOR SALES IN 2005.” “The Division of Liquor Control is pleased to report that we once again achieved a new record high in dollar sales of spirituous liquor. Gallonage sales for 2005 were also up this year to 9.7 million gallons. This was an increase of 346,921 gallons or 3.7 percent greater than gallonage sales for 2004.”

State residents are drinking more hard liquor than they have since 1989 and spending more on it than they ever have.

Number of Ohioans with AT LEAST one drunken-diving convictions: 966,189.

One out of nine (approx. 11%) of ALL Ohioans with a drivers license or state ID card have been convicted of driving drunk AT LEAST once.

Ohio has 35,825 motorists with FOUR or more drunken-driving convictions, according to the state Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

About 40 percent of Ohio suspects refuse the alcohol breath test, the sixth highest among 41 states where data was available, according to a study by the NHTSA.

Ohio Supreme Court Justice refused to take a field sobriety test and drove away from police Monday afternoon (Feb. 2005) when confronted with reports she had been driving erratically on I-75 near Bowling Green.

The wife of Columbus Mayor faces at least three days in jail after a drunken-driving arrest after hitting a truck parked in Bexley (10-20-05). Mrs. Coleman registered a 0.271 percent blood alcohol level when she took the test at Bexley police headquarters. That’s more than THREE times the level at which a driver in Ohio is considered to be drunk.

Columbus is now becoming a major hub for illegal drugs because it is strategically located. You have I-70 and I-71 and nearby are I-75 and I-80. More than half the country’s population is within a 500-mile drive. Some volunteers are refusing to pick up litter along Ohio’s roads because of hazardous waste from methamphetamine labs.

Truckers use the open road as their toilet. “An estimated 1 million bottles of urine and other liquid waste are dumped each year on Ohio’s roadsides and highway medians.”

Like I said before, the information presented in this thread may be negative and may not put Ohio in a very good light, but isn’t it better to know this information upfront? Most Ohioans’ do not have the slightest idea that this type of stuff is actually happening to/in their state.

Am I wasting my time or is this information useful to anyone? If not, I will stop this thread after this posting.

[Candra]

I actually find your info. interesting and informative. On the other hand, I can't help but wonder why you still live there.

[Ohioan]

Originally Posted by Ohioan

More relevant information on Ohio -- this time on education.

Ohio has the seventh-largest number of adults, ages 25 or older that do not have a high school diploma in the United States.

Quote from Governor Bob Taft in his recent State of the State address: "For every 10 students who start high school in Ohio, only seven will earn a diploma, only five will enroll in a post-secondary institution and of those, fewer than three out of 10 will complete a bachelor's degree within 10 years," Taft said. "Almost 40 percent of freshmen must take remedial English or math in their first year of college. A high school diploma should mean that a student is prepared to succeed in college."

"Ohio is at a crossroads,” -- "At a time when investing in the production of knowledge is vital to our state's economic future, we rank 40th nationally in attainment of bachelor's degrees and 41st in associate-degree attainment. If these trends continue, Ohio will emerge as a backwater in the global economy."

In 2000, only 19% of Ohio’s jobs required a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Ohio is behind almost every other state in the level of financial assistance we provide to families who can't afford higher education, which may be why only a little more than 2 in 10 adults in our entire state are college educated.

2005 survey found the following: 1 is best, 50 worst

1. 49th in affordability of college,
2. 46th in state operating appropriations per student for higher education,
3. 37th in level of increase in higher education spending among the states between 2000 and 2005, and
4. 40th in the nation in terms of percent of people over age 25 with a four-year bachelor’s degree.

As a percent of the Ohio budget, higher education spending peaked in 1978 at 17.7 percent. The percentage of the budget devoted to higher education has fallen each year since 1996, to 11.9 percent in 2004 and an allotted 11.7 percent in 2005

In Ohio, average tuition costs:

$7,508 at public, four-year institutions, 46 percent higher than the national average of $5,132.

$3,175 at public, two-year institutions, 53 percent higher than the national average of $2,076.

Ohio received a grade of F for affordability in Measuring Up 2004, a national report card on higher education.

The share of state higher education expenses paid for by students and families is among the highest in the nation at 48 percent (national average is 36%), ranking Ohio 12th.

Only 16% of all Ohioans earn a bachelors degree or higher. Of the 60% of Ohio high school students that go to college, only 21% actually graduate.

Quote from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland’s top officer: “The Ohio economy continues to trail the nations, in part because the state’s businesses are afraid to take risks and a lack of commitment to education. We must be open to new ideas, new entrepreneurs and creating a culture that values education. The region is also falling behind the rest of the nation in education and trails the national average of people with college degrees.”

Clarification -- the following quote DID NOT come from Gov. Taft: "Ohio is at a crossroads,” -- "At a time when investing in the production of knowledge is vital to our state's economic future, we rank 40th nationally in attainment of bachelor's degrees and 41st in associate-degree attainment. If these trends continue, Ohio will emerge as a backwater in the global economy."

Since I placed this quote immediately after a quote that Gov. Taft had made, it may look like both statements were his.

[travelling_paws]

Ohioan, I'm not disputing your info. If true, it would certainly be a consideration.
But there must be something good about Ohio - or at least something that is keeping you there. I'm in Michigan but have several friends who live in Ohio and love where they live. (Columbus, and Defiance.)
Columbus is a nice little city, from what I have seen.

[paintballer1708]

$1.2B power plant, 150 jobs coming to Meigs County

Gahanna: 80-acre Bedford landfill site to become office park, 4000 jobs

Quicken Loans expanding to Cleveland

Suburban Cleveland: Progressive to add 1000 new jobs

Teleperformance USA bringing 400-600 jobs to downtown Akron

I posted these before and gave the site but it didnt show up. Here are some of the sites.

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=8550.0

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=8654.0

http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php?topic=5963.0

There are some of the proven facts you need. I gave websites. This info is not outdated. And i didnt put fake dates in to make them seem recent. I will be making a new thread on more jobs coming to Ohio. No any negative news.

[Ohioan]

“$1.2B power plant, 150 jobs coming to Meigs County.” Not quite. There are 10 states in the running for the new FutureGen power plant – Ohio is just one of the states.

“Gahanna: 80-acre Bedford landfill site to become office park, 4000 jobs.” Great news! See: epa.gov/brownfields/06arc/Gahanna.htm

“Quicken Loans expanding to Cleveland.” Again, this is Good news, BUT Discover Financial Services just fired 264 people in Hilliard (near Columbus.) this month -- jfs.ohio.gov/warn/current.stm

“Suburban Cleveland: Progressive to add 1000 new jobs.” You are right, this is GOOD news!

“Teleperformance USA bringing 400-600 jobs to downtown Akron.” Trouble is -- these are not high paying jobs; they start at $9.00/hour or $18,720/year. This may be good for someone without an education or who is unemployed, but it is dismal pay for anyone else.

[Ohioan]

These are great sites in which to monitor Ohio’s air quality.

From the U.S. EPA: ozone or particulate matter (PM2.5) air pollution in Ohio on a daily basis.

airnow.gov

airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.currentconditions


Remember, use the following three sites to monitor Central Ohio’s air pollution.

airquality.morpc1.org

airquality.morpc1.org/aqthisyear.cfm

airquality.morpc1.org/historical.cfm

**Notice the air quality for the past few years and even for the past few days!**

[htlong]

Originally Posted by Ohioan

This thread contains information that MOST people will never come across in their research on this state. Unfortunately, most of it doesn’t portray Ohio in a very good light. Native Ohioans’ always state how great Ohio is, but they NEVER, EVER mention any of the negatives or major issues that Ohio is facing. Hopefully, this thread provides readers’ with a deeper, more complete understanding of Ohio. This thread may show the “dark” side of Ohio, but it is better to know about these issues and problems then to just ignore them, or worst, discovering this information after moving here.

Go to the The American Lung Association’s website and find “State of the Air 2006” for a detailed report on Ohio’s air quality – this report just came out.

i take it someone you know has a respiratory problem, i lived in northern ohio for 36 years in the heyday of industrial pollution i have no lung problems and the people that i know that have lung problems are heavy smokers,
one of the biggest reasons ne ohio has taken a dive is tree huggers like you who have put many people out of work due to the clean air standards,
i say pollute the air! what good is clean air if you cant find a job to work and feed your family.
i had to leave ohio account of epa regulations against high sulphur coal,im gone and so are many but hey the air according to you is still polluted, so what have you accomplished other than disrrupting the lives of hard working people. so continue your quest but its falling on deaf ears here!

[JillinPA]

The pollution in your home is much more toxic than outside...Ohio or anywhere!!! Be Educated
http://www.mmmteam.com/training/toxi...shop/athc.html

Jill
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