When the National Governors’ Association assembles next month in Salt Lake City, Utah, the state of Ohio will not be represented.

Late last week, Ohio Gov. John Kasich announced that he would be dropping out of the bipartisan association, citing financial issues. While the Kasich administration continues to search for ways to close Ohio’s $7.7 billion budget deficit, continued membership with the National Governors’ Association proved to be too costly for what it’s worth.

In fact, dues to the association for the first half of the year amounted to $88,000. Former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland actually elected to drop out of the association during the second half of last year, yet the association still reportedly sent a bill.

Formed in 1908, the National Governors’ Association is comprised of governors from each state, as well as representatives from the District of Columbia and other commonwealths such as Guam, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories. The association provides training for governmental staffs, brings leaders together to address many issues they have in common and serves as a lobbying arm in Washington, D.C.

Ohio has always played a role in the NGA, and in fact, former Ohio Gov. George Voinovich served as chairman of the association in 1998.

Today brings a different story, however. The $176,000 annual membership is one that Gov. Kasich is willing to cut by dropping out of the association. A spokesman for the Kasich administration said the decision to cease membership with the NGA was one that was evaluated, and if finances improve, Kasich may consider rejoining the group.

But under the circumstances, the dues are not worth the benefits of membership.

The Kasich administration is peppered with seasoned veterans of the Washington political game, and the training and resources offered through the NGA aren’t necessarily invaluable.

It’s a bold move, but yet another one that falls in line with the character that Kasich has developed this year since taking his seat as governor of Ohio. He is determined to cut spending, go against the grain and think outside the box in order to find ways to close the budget gap and operate more efficiently.