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Drillers And Lawmakers Discuss Possible Severance Tax Increase

State leaders could be announcing a new agreement that increases the severance tax as soon as the end of the month. Ohio Public Radio's Andy Chow reports.  

After Governor John Kasich once again proposed raising the severance tax in his budget, House and Senate leaders shelved it by announcing a commission that would come up with a proposal by October 1.

Senate spokesperson John Fortney said there’s been movement in the form of informal conversations with the industry behind closed doors.

“You know with the oil and gas industry really breaking oil and natural gas records in the first two quarters of the year in Ohio, we really are optimistic they want to be part of a long term plan here in the state and we want them here,” said Fortney.

Though Senate President Keith Faber said in July that October 1 was a “hard deadline”, Fortney said it’s more of a goal that can go unmet if that means taking more time to “get it right.”

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