OHIO – For decades, Ohioans have relied on the Ohio corporations database to check their state’s corporate taxes.
The state has a $8.5 billion state and local government.
The Ohio Taxpayers Association and Ohio Business Association have fought to have the database updated.
The two groups filed a lawsuit in August, seeking to keep the database from being changed.
On Tuesday, the court denied their request to keep it in place.
In a ruling, Judge Charles D. Kallstrom said the data is a public record, and a public body can only change it if the public has a compelling interest.
He said he doesn’t think the public is that compelling.
The database has been updated three times since 2000, and Kallsten said the public will be able to check its records on a weekly basis, even if it isn’t a business day.
The judge said he is confident that Ohioans will be satisfied with the updated database.
The lawsuit was filed in October and is currently before the Supreme Court.
The organizations said the database was made public because the court had ordered it.