Ohio's dysfunctional state government is poised to keep Buckeye State residents waiting longer than necessary on their tax refunds, solely because of politics. That ought to upset every state resident, not just those affected directly.

For weeks, state legislators have been at an impasse over repairs to the two-year budget approved last summer. It contains an $850 million "hole" - a difference of that much between expected revenue and planned spending.

No one seems to have come up with a better way to plug the hole than to delay an income tax rate reduction that was scheduled to take effect this year.

Conservatives in the General Assembly have agreed - reluctantly - to postpone the tax increase. However, in exchange they want to change the rules regarding contracts for public works projects. As we have reported, the rules currently require separate contracts for the various facets of construction projects. The conservatives want to allow use of a single general contract. That could save Ohioans millions of dollars a year.

Democrat lawmakers have balked at the idea, however.

While the disagreement continues, state tax collectors have no idea of what income tax rates will be for returns to be filed next year. Because of that, they have been unable to print and mail out 1.8 million tax information booklets.

Even if legislators and Gov. Ted Strickland agree within a week or so on a budget bill and tax rates, the booklets cannot be prepared and mailed out before Feb. 1. Taxpayers who had been counting on filing paper returns in January - and collecting their refunds speedily - will be frustrated.

State income tax officials have no choice but to delay sending out the forms. Don't blame them. Once again, blame legislators who just can't seem to get the job done in a timely fashion.