Gov. Ted Strickland says he's open to possible solutions to fill an expected $851.5 million hole in the state budget, but he made it clear last week that he doesn't think a Republican proposal to restructure state government is one of them.

The governor has proposed delaying an already approved 4.2 percent cut in the state income tax as a way to replace funding that no longer is expected from an ill-fated plan to add video slot machines at Ohio horseracing tracks.

Strickland has said he'd like the legislature to act on his proposal or come up with an alternative to raise the needed revenue and put the two-year budget back into balance.

But the governor said he doesn't think government-restructuring legislation promoted by some House and Senate Republicans would generate enough revenue -- and could cost money initially.

"Is there anyone who seriously thinks that that legislation would bring us the resources we need to balance this current biennial budget?" the governor asked.

-- Mark Niquette mniquette@dispatch.com