Looking at the state budget, it’s hard to escape the tentacles of big government. State government touches just about every profession under the sun in our state. Below are a list of state boards and their funding.

These boards, by and large, simply issue certificates and licenses. Yet, each is funded with hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. And some beg the question, “Is this really necessary?”

Case in point, why do we need a State Board of Cosmetology and the Ohio State Barber Board? Taken together, Ohio spends over $4 million regulating haircuts. Here’s a few of the offenders, with their upcoming FY08 appropriations. All told, this mind-numbing level of bureaucracy costs the taxpayers $15,794,736 a year.

Accountancy Board of Ohio – $1,417,246
State Board of Examiners of Architects – $638,110
Ohio State Barber Board – $608,045
Chemical Dependency Professionals Board - $530,864
State Board of Chiropractic Examiners - $607,445
State Board of Cosmetology – $3,553,679
Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage & Family Therapist Board - $1,124,267
Board of Dietetics - $342,501
State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors – $628,641
State Employment Relations Board - $3,334,344
State Board of Engineers and Surveyors - $1,058,881
Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board - $892,241
Ohio Optical Dispensers Board - $333,356
State Board of Psychology - $586,565
State Board of Sanitarian Registration - $138,551

Share This