At this point, the city of Marion has proposed three budgets for 2026–with another one being proposed in Finance Committee at tonight’s meeting. There has been a lot of talk about cuts and fee increases, given the city’s present status of fiscal distress, but has the budget really been reduced compared to 2025 as has […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
Finding itself in fiscal distress, the city of Marion is faced with some difficult choices, being pressured by the Ohio Auditor of State to either fix the financial mess on their own or else the state of Ohio will take over management of the city. Among the city’s fiscal challenges is an $8.9 million dollar […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
With the city of Marion currently considering the elimination of the 100% income tax credit provided to city residents who work elsewhere and pay income taxes to another municipality, now is a good time to share the story of how Marion came to have an income tax. Prior to the 1st of June 1959, if […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
The Swamp Fox has already posted about this topic–many weeks ago–so it isn’t exactly breaking news at this point–but it’s just now getting the attention of Marion residents, so here he goes once again. Let’s start with an example, using a hypothetical Marion man named John. John lives in Marion but works in Crestline. Both […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
A little political satire never harmed anyone. Average Ohioans don’t want Big Money buying off its politicians. Average Ohioans don’t want Big Business building behemoth data centers that have an unquenchable thirst for energy and water, all the while getting tax breaks from their stooges in Big Government. They get tax breaks, water and energy […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
The Swamp Fox has broken it all down for y’all, after analyzing the campaign finance reports filed with the Ohio Secretary of State, so be sure to check out those charts for all the potentially swampy details! This position will represent all of Union County as well as Prospect, Pleasant and Marion Townships–including the city […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
Richwood village council just voted to demolish the village’s historic former town hall and opera house. The historic structure was recognized by an Ohio Historical Marker in 2003, which reads: Side A: The Richwood Opera House and Town Hall was erected in 1890 as a community center designed to house the town council chambers, fire […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
Kent Halloran, who has resided in the city of Marion since 2022 and recently ran an unsuccessful campaign as a write-in candidate for one of the at-large positions on Marion City Council, has announced that he is running in the Democratic primary for the 86th District State Representative position currently held by Republican Tracy Richardson. […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
We’ve got some swampy shenanigans orchestrated by some sour socialists going on in the race for the State Rep of the 86th District, folks–and the Swamp Fox ain’t having it! Wezlynn Davis, a conservative candidate in this year’s Republican primary, previously challenged incumbent Tracy Richardson, who currently holds the seat but cannot run for re-election […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
Marion Area Transit, as you may or may not know, receives most of its operational funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) in the form of grants. These ODOT grants reimburse the city for most of its costs associated with transit. If you look at the city’s most recent financial audit, from the year […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
As the city of Marion looks into the replacement of current city auditor, Miranda Meginness, the question arises as to who will be her replacement. The auditor has many responsibilities, serving as the city’s chief fiscal officer. The auditor handles the city’s books, accounts for revenues and expenditures, completes internal audits, oversees the income tax […]
Written by Swamp.Fox
As Republicans in north central Ohio look to the upcoming gubernatorial primary, which will see Vivek Ramaswamy up against Casey Putsch and Heather Hill, I think it’s appropriate to look back to the last primary, which saw Governor Mike DeWine challenged by Joe Blystone, Jim Renacci and Ron Hood. DeWine, who epitomizes Republican-In-Name-Only (RINO) policies, […]