Crain's Cleveland Business and the Dayton Daily News report that Ohio's unemployment insurance fund is running low and may even run out. Although the recommended level for the fund should be $2.28 billion, the fund is working with a balance of only $555.7 million. Part of the shortfall is due to two (2) major factors. In the first place, there have been no increases in the $9,000 per employee base amount upon which employers must pay 2.7% unemployment taxes. Secondly, there are a lot less businesses in Ohio, at only 226,808, which is down from 232,755 in 2000. The good news is that employees will not go without because the state can supposedly borrow money from the federal government like it did in the 1980's. In addition, the state has hired a consultant to recommend ways to repair the system. Click here for unemployment data for Ohio, and click here for the latest 12/21/07 ODJFS press release on unemployment rates in Ohio.