If the Ohio Senate fails to act on House Bill 318 by December 31, Ohio's constitution will require Governor Ted Strickland’s staff to begin cutting state aid to local school districts by $50 million per month, the largest education cutback in state history. Learn more and take action!
To see the impact on your local school district, please click here.
In early October, the Governor proposed what we believe is the best solution for closing this budget gap immediately. This proposal, House Bill 318, passed the Ohio House on October 21, 2009. The bill would freeze income tax rates at 2008 levels for tax years 2009 and 2010 in order to restore $851 million in support for primary and secondary education.
On Thursday, November 19, 2009, the Senate Republicans, who do not support the House-passed version of HB 318, unveiled their plan for balancing the shortfall. The bill includes extensive changes to education-related provisions included in House Bill 1, the operation of state government and other provisions.
Recently, the Senate canceled several House Bill 318 hearings as a compromise between legislative leaders has yet to be reached. On December 10, Governor Ted Strickland’s staff informed the statewide education associations that unless House Bill (HB) 318 or its equivalent is passed by December 31, 2009, public education funding in Ohio will be drastically reduced.
Ohio’s Constitution requires the Governor to balance the state budget. In order to comply with this, Governor Strickland will be forced to direct the reduction of approximately $50 million of state foundation aid each month for the next 18 months beginning January, 2010. This reduction in state aid drops Ohio below 2006 school funding levels, resulting in the loss of federal stimulus funds.
Taken together, the reduction in state and federal aid to Ohio school districts will total $2.3 billion, or a reduction in funding for schools of nearly $95 million per month. This would amount to the largest reduction in aid to public education in Ohio’s history.
FutureofOhio.org implores members and friends to call, write and meet with their state senators immediately. We must prevent the single largest cut to school funding in the history of the state.
To learn more and take action, please click here.