As required by law, Governor DeWine released his budget blue print, yesterday. The so-called budget blue book outlines generally the governor’s proposed budget for FY2022-2023. The governor has essentially flat-funded the education funding formula, leaving it unchanged from FY2020-2021. He increased funding for his signature policy initiative of wrap-around services. He also increased funding for school vouchers. You can view the blue book (education begins on page D124) at http://www.oagc.com/statebudget.asp under “Fiscal Year 2022/2023 Budget Documents.” The House Finance Committee will meet this Thursday to receive an overview of the budget. Viewers can tune in at 10:00 AM on www.ohiochannel.org. The Ohio House introduced a new bill that includes the the Cupp-Patterson funding formula. HB1 closely mirrors HB305, which was passed in December, 2020. (For those around in 2001, HB1 was the same bill number as the short-lived Stickland school funding plan.)
The House Finance Primary and Secondary Education Sub-Committee will hold hearings on the education portion of the education budget along with HB1. Representative Tracy Richardson (R) will chair this subcommittee. Other committee members include former House Education chair Jamie Callender (R) and Brian Baldridge (R). The Ranking Minority Party Member is Daniel P. Troy (D). Joining him is Bride Rose Sweeney (D).
As we head into the budget season, OAGC has some homework for gifted advocates. If you have any ideas or issues that you would like us to include in our Legislative Position Statement for the 134th General Assembly, please send them to [email protected] by February 15, 2021. For reference, please view the OAGC position statement for the 133rdGeneral Assembly at http://www.oagc.com/files/Legislative_Positions_for_the_133rd_General_Assembly.2.25.19%20proofed.pdf.