Vote for Berleen Wobeter, not for Dean Fisher. Here is one of many reasons why. Mr. Fisher and his Republican allies have now been completely in charge of state government for almost 10 years. In that time the state budget has gone from surpluses to massive deficits. While the final numbers are not yet available, the estimated deficit for last year is $916 million and the projection for the fiscal year we are now in will be $1.20 billion. How are they doing this? They are spending the reserve funds. At the current rate, that money will be gone in 2030 or 2031.

Dean and his Republicans now in charge preach fiscal responsibility to public schools, cities and counties by limiting growth in those budgets to about 2%. What did they do in the meantime? Total state spending growth in FY 24 was 4.75%; FY 25 was 4.07%; FY 26 is expected to be 5.25%. Dean and his party have found the money to do the things they want, like funding private schools with taxpayer dollars, while imposing fiscal strangulation on public schools and local governments.

I have had enough of Republican fake financial conservatism. Vote for change. Vote for Berleen Wobeter because she believes in balanced budgets and local control of school, city and county finances.

Steve Kenkel, Toledo