HB 96 – Operating Budget
The Ohio House of Representatives passed HB96 with a vote of 60-39. One of the most hotly debated items of this version of the budget is a provision that would give $600 million in bonds to the Cleveland Browns for a new football stadium. The final cost of the stadium is estimated to be roughly $2.4 billion. The debt incurred by the state of Ohio would be repaid with interest over the next 25 years. This would cost the state of Ohio roughly $1 billion. The only amendment accepted during yesterday’s vote was an amendment that would require the Browns to increase their escrow amount from $38.5 million to $50 million.
Public School Funding
During floor debates, many representatives criticized HB96 for not properly funding public schools in Ohio. The Fair School Funding Plan requires that the state and local communities share the cost of educating a child in Ohio. The state’s share is outlined in the operating budget and the local share is generated through property values and income. Ohio has been operating with a partial phase-in of this funding formula which brings us to modern day and current debates between the state’s share and the local share of funding education in Ohio. A fully funded Fair School Funding Plan estimates that the state would need $666 million (though some argue that with inflation, this number is closer to $800 million). This version of the budget would provide the state with $226 million. Rep. Stewart, Chair of the House Finance Committee, argues that every district in Ohio will receive more money than they did last year while democrats argue that this number represents the lowest state share since the passing of the Fair School Funding Plan. With recent property valuations, the formula is expected to shift with more burden on local shares and less on the state. In addition to these formula changes, HB96 would require tax rate reductions at districts who had more than 30% of the previous year’s operating spending reserved. HB96 will now be sent to the Ohio Senate for their committee hearings and ultimate debate.
Gifted Professional Development Funds
OAGC is frustrated that gifted professional development funds for general education teachers was not amended into HB96. However, HB96 will now be heard and debated in the Ohio Senate, so there will be more opportunities to underscore the importance of these funds and request they get added back into the budget before being sent to the Governor’s desk in late June.