Pavliga Supports and Ohio House Approves State Budget Proposal, Heads to Senate
State Rep. Gail Pavliga (R-Portage County) and the Ohio House approved House Bill 110, otherwise known as the two-year state operating budget for Fiscal Years 2022-2023. The legislation highlights include a new school funding reform plan, tax relief, jobs and economic support, and several other initiatives.
“Along with some of the local Portage County funding I proposed, I am very proud to stand with my colleagues today as we took huge steps in this budget to provide business relief and investments, job creation initiatives, a new fair funding formula for our schools, and tax relief for all Ohioans,” Pavliga said. “I’m very pleased with how this turned out and can’t wait for the proposal to advance.”
The school funding reform plan is the result of more than three years of work by educators and policymakers. The Fair School Funding Plan is predictable, sustainable and transparent. The plan will be phased in over the next six years, beginning with the 2021-22 school year, and is designed to ensure no district loses funding during the transition to a new formula.
The legislation also includes a two percent personal income tax rate cut, which will reduce taxes approximately $380 million over the biennium. Coupled with recently passed legislation (Senate Bill 18) conforming Ohio’s tax code with federal law, the House is providing a nearly $500 million in personal income tax relief this biennium.
In addition to school funding reform and tax relief, the plan provides COVID-19 relief aid to help businesses impacted by the pandemic. The House budget proposal appropriates $155 million in COVID-19 relief aid to help businesses impacted by the pandemic. Grants from this funding will be available in the fiscal year beginning July 1. The package includes:
• $100 million for restaurants and bars
• $25 million for the lodging industry
• $20 million for indoor and outdoor entertainment venues
• $10 million in relief for new businesses
Additionally, the budget bill includes targeted investments to support Ohio jobs, businesses and the economy. This portion of the bill focuses on expanding procurement law to give preference to American and Ohio products. The legislation also focuses on workforce development through a committee to study workforce training and several programs to support employment opportunities. One of the measures is the Main Street Job Recovery Program, which provides $500,000 over the biennium to be used for grants to non-profit organizations to create business development and employment opportunities targeted to low- and moderate-income individuals as well as individuals of the re-entry population.
House Bill 110 also includes a series of provisions in support of law enforcement, firefighters and public safety. Some of the initiatives include security grants, school safety grants, body cameras, law enforcement training investment, firefighter grants, and funding for the Ohio Cyber Reserve.
The House plan also contains several provisions that are part of a broader effort to increase legislative oversight and government accountability on state spending. These include:
• Joint Legislative Oversight and Review Committee of Federal COVID Relief Aid – This panel will provide more oversight of federal COVID relief aid spent by the state.
• State Controlling Board – The budget calls for more agency spending initiatives to come before the board for review and approval. The seven-person board is comprised of three House members, three Senate members and a designee of the governor’s budget director.
Pavliga proposed several amendments added to the budget proposal that includes millions in increased funding to medical schools, education centers, higher education facilities, long-term care research, rape crisis centers and battered women’s shelters within Portage, Summit and Medina Counties. The representative also supported STEM Initiative Funding to middle school students in both Portage and Geauga Counties.
Lastly, Pavliga offered another amendment that increases the coronavirus relief fund for local fairs, which will provide aid for fairs within Portage County.
Specifically, some of the allocated funds for these local Portage County projects include:
• NEOMED: $112,925 in FY22, $113, 779 in FY 23
• Bio-Med Science Academy: $3,150.82 for each student enrolled, increased funding for independent science schools to $12,000,000
• Fair Grounds: $9,000,000 for COVID-19 relief funds
• Rape Crisis Center: $5,200,000 each fiscal year
• Kent State University: $100,000 in each fiscal year to support the Kent State University Rising Scholars Program
• Kent State University: $100,000 each fiscal year to Kent State University as part of the Rural University Program
The budget plan, under House Bill 110, now heads to the Senate for further action.