I am writing as a constituent to urge you to vote to override Governor DeWine's veto of the repeal of Ohio's data center tax break.
Ohio taxpayers should expect that tax incentives deliver clear, measurable public benefits that justify their cost. The current data center tax exemption has already cost, and is projected to continue costing, Ohio billions of dollars in forgone tax revenue. Yet there is little evidence that the scale of these subsidies is producing commensurate benefits for Ohio residents.
The world's largest technology companies are building data centers in Ohio because of strategic advantages such as available land, existing infrastructure, and access to major markets. These corporations would likely continue investing in Ohio without receiving massive tax subsidies from taxpayers.
At the same time, data centers impose significant costs on Ohio communities. They consume enormous amounts of electricity and water, place growing demands on transmission infrastructure, contribute to higher energy costs, and require substantial public investment to support their operations. While these facilities often generate relatively few permanent jobs compared to other forms of economic development, local residents are left to bear many of the economic and environmental impacts.
Ohio should not be sacrificing billions in public revenue while assuming substantial environmental and infrastructure costs for projects that provide limited returns to taxpayers. Those resources could instead be invested in schools, roads, public safety, local governments, and other priorities that directly benefit Ohio families and businesses.
I respectfully ask you to support an override of the governor's veto and restore the legislature's decision to repeal this tax exemption. Ohio's tax policy should prioritize fiscal responsibility, fairness, transparency, and investments that create broad public value.
Thank you for your service and for considering my views. I would appreciate hearing your position on this issue.
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