The 2005 Ohio Child Support Guidelines Council is finalizing its recommendations for altering child support in Ohio.  As those recommendations now stand, they would change the methodology for calculating child support dramatically.  The new methodology is economically unsound for numerous reasons.  (I've attached a draft of my minority report that indicates some of the problems with the new methodology.)

 

  The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), which oversees the Guidelines Council, has contracted with Policy Studies, Inc. (PSI) to construct new child support tables based on the Council's recommendations.  The study shows that the recommendations would result in increases in child support amounts from around 23% to a high of 1117%.  (That's right, more than ten times.)  Many parents, especially those with four or five children, would face increases of around 100%.  Most parents would see increases around the 50% level.

 

  I'm writing to ask you--no plead with you--to contact ODJFS and request a copy of this study under Ohio's Public Records Law.  I've included below a draft of a letter you can cut and paste and modify to say what you want.  ODJFS is allowed to charge you for "actual costs" of reproduction of the material you request.  The report is 88 pages long and "actual costs" has usually been interpreted to mean the Xeroxing costs (around $.05 a page).  The agency has the report electronically, too.  That version should be free. 

 

  If you can afford it (and it shouldn't be very expensive), I would recommend that you request a hard copy.   (They may not charge you anyway since this is a bit of a hassle for them.)  The purpose of this exercise is not primarily to get copies of the report (which I have posted at this website already: http://www.hubincase.homestead.com/CSCouncil.html).  It is to signal to ODJFS, and, in particular, to Director Hayes, that we are watching this process.  If a lot of people contact the office requesting this report, I'm confident that he, personally, will be informed of the requests.

 

  If you prefer to call ODJFS, here is the number:  (614)466-6282

 

  You can fax your request to: (614)466-2815

 

  You can send it by regular mail to:

                Tom Hayes, Director

                Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

                30 E. Broad St., 32nd Floor

                Columbus, Ohio 43215-3414

 

  A sample letter is below.  You're encouraged to alter it as you wish, but please be respectful in what you say.

 

Please do this.

 

Don

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Tom Hayes, Director

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

30 E. Broad St., 32nd Floor

Columbus, Ohio 43215-3414

 

Dear Director Hayes,

 

  I hereby request, under the provisions of the Ohio Public Records law, a copy of Ohio Economic Study for 2005 Guidelines:  First Draft of USDA Schedule (November 3, 2005) by Policy Studies, Inc.  This study was submitted to the State of Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and your agency is, therefore, a custodian of the document.  This document is a public record under the provisions of ORC §149.03.

 

  It is my understanding that this study shows the effects of the recommendations of the 2005 Ohio Child Support Guidelines Council on child cost estimates and, hence, on presumptive child support obligations.  I want to review this document personally to see if it is true that the proposed guidelines will result in increases in the child cost tables from 23% to a high of 1117%.

 

I understand that your agency has a right to charge me for the actual costs involved in reproducing this document.  Please advise me concerning the amount you require if you intend to charge me for reproduction of this document.  You can contact me at [INCLUDE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION HERE]

 

I look forward to your reply.

 

Thank You,