S.B. 59, Ohio's recently passed budget bill, expands Ohio Revised Code 121.22 to allow local governments to meet behind closed doors under certain circumstances to discuss pending economic development awards, Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Supporters of the provision applaud the new ability of local governments to discuss such awards confidentially, arguing that it enables officials to make informed decisions with confidential company data that prospective award recipients likely would not disclose in the public meeting context. Opponents of the measure, however, say that there is no evidence that the prior open meetings requirements jeopardized economic development opportunities and that expanding executive sessions could "lead to less public input and more mistakes; even more corruption," the article said. For more, read the full story.
Ohio's budget bill allows local governments to discuss economic development deals in executive session
