I want to address comments made last week regarding the Veterans Services Commission funding, as it relies on how things are described rather than how they are required to operate under Ohio law.
Huddleson claimed, there is ‘no tax levied for veterans services — zero.’
That statement is deliberately deceptive, suggesting that no specific legal requirements apply.
But that is not how Ohio law works.
The fact that it’s not labeled as a separate levy doesn’t change where it comes from — the 0.5 mill is derived from property tax valuation and, by statute, is tied to Veterans Services.
Ohio law does not depend on whether something is labeled a ‘veterans tax.’
But whether the money is restricted by statute.
Under ORC 5901.11 and ORC 5901.15, Veterans Service Commission funding is legally restricted to specific purposes.
That is not optional.
ORC 5705.09(F) requires that a separate fund be established for that class of revenue — the statute says “shall”.
Then ORC 5705.10(C) requires that those revenues be credited to the proper fund, NOT commingled with general fund money.
So repeating that ‘there is no tax levied’ does not answer the legal question.
It avoids it.
The requirement is triggered by the restriction of purpose, not by the label attached to the revenue.
Huddleson stated that if there were a tax for veterans’ services, it would be placed in a separate fund, tracked year to year, and restricted. That is correct. It is not a hypothetical scenario — That is exactly what Ohio law requires when funds are restricted, which Veterans Service Commission funding is.
Saying:
‘We fund them from the general fund,’
‘They always get what they need,’
or ‘we don’t levy a tax.’
does not resolve the issue.
Those are policy statements.
This is a statutory compliance issue under ORC Chapter 5705.
The question remains very simple:
Are funds that are legally restricted under ORC 5901.11 and 5901.15 being properly classified, tracked, and accounted for in a separate fund as required by ORC 5705.09(F) and 5705.10(C)?
⭐️ WHERE IS THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN UNUSED VETERANS MONEY?
That question has not been answered.
And it is now appropriately before the Auditor of the State of Ohio!