The public was given the chance to express its concerns and ask questions to members of both sides of Issue 2 in a debate held by the Libertarian Party of Ohio Wednesday night.”Raising taxes hurts the economy,” said Scott Pullins of the National Taxpayers Union. “I think that government should cut first before they ask tax payers to pay more.”Issue 2, which would add a one cent sales tax if passed, is an attempt to make Ohio public school funding constitutional. In 1997, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled state public schools relied to heavily on property tax revenue.”We have those who say we don’t need more money for schools and those who say vote no because it won’t raise enough for schools,” said State Rep. E.J. Thomas (R-Columbus). “This is a moderate approach for dealing with the mandate given to us by the supreme court.”Some feel the property tax relief would not be felt by many Ohioans.”A sales tax is twice a burden on poor families than others,” said State Rep. Bill Schuck (R-Columbus). “The poor won’t get much tax relief, if any, because some don’t even own property.Some attending the debate questioned the use of “rainy day funds” that the state has in case of an emergency. However, not everyone encouraged the use of the emergency funds.”At some point the economic bubble we are riding on the way up, will dip down,” said Thomas. “If we have a mild recession, 26 months into it, we will be through the rainy day funds and a million in the red.”Spending per student in Ohio ranges from $3,500 per year to $12,000 per year, said David Dobos of the Columbus School Board.If Issue 2 passes on May 5, half of the one cent will go towards schools while the other half will go towards relief in property taxes.”If you spend half of the money and get back half of the money, how do you make any of it?” Schuck said. “Issue 2 does not reduce the reliance on property taxes. It’s a deception.”Thomas feels the voters should decide.”We felt it was important to put the issue before you, the voters, because this is an expensive expense,” Thomas said.Both sides are afraid of what will happen if voters turn down the issue on election day.”I’m worried about cuts in other state funding,” Dobos said. “I’m especially afraid of higher education funding if this fails.”