Ohio House Passes State Operating Budget
Columbus, Ohio – the Ohio House of Representative passed HB33, the state operating budget, this afternoon, announced State Representative Jamie Callender (R-Concord). The vote on HB 33 comes after 4 months of hearings, amendments, and input from constituents regarding how the state should spend its money over the next two fiscal years. Among the major proposals in the House Budget are a $1 billion dollar tax cut, the largest increase in state support for K-12 education in Ohio’s history, and continued investment in career technical training.
Included in HB33 are several appropriations and earmarks supporting projects across Lake County including:
- $1 million for the Alliance for Working Together to support their ongoing STEM programs for students
- $5 million to support the repairs to the Bacon Road Pump Station
- $3.5 million for the Mentor Harbor Erosion Mitigation Project
“On behalf of our 400 members throughout Northeast Ohio, AWT thanks representative Callender for his leadership and support of STEM to Manufacturing Programming opportunities promoted by AWT for in-demand, high-paying manufacturing jobs in Lake County and throughout our region,” said Teresa Simons, Executive Director of AWT.
The funding for the Mentor Harbor Erosion Mitigating Project is in addition to the $3.5 million Representative Callender was able to secure for the project as part of HB 45 (134th General Assembly), bringing the State’s commitment to the project to $7 million.
In addition to funding for projects in Lake County, Representative Callender was successful in advocating for projects across North East Ohio including:
- $600,000 for the Cleveland Institute of Music and their Academy at CIM
- $975,000 for the Foundry Row, Sail, Dream program
- $500,000 for the Cleveland Natural History Museum to support their STEM programing
- $900,000 for the Transpiration Accessibility and Modernization Pilot Program at the Senior Transportation Connection of Cuyahoga County
- $500,000 for the Cleveland Museum of Art
- $500,000 for the Cleveland Orchestra
- $10 million for the Cleveland Foodbank
- $5 million for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
“These funds from the State of Ohio will empower the Cleveland Institute of Music to further level the playing field in music education, supporting the affordable after-school and weekend training that is helping our people reach their full potential,” said Paul Hogle, Cleveland Institute of Music President & CEO. “CIM thanks Representative Callender for championing this important work.”
“Thanks to the observation and commitment of the State Legislature, especially Representative Callender, to understand the importance of positive pathways in youth development,” said Gina Trebilcock, executive director at The Foundry. “The TANF renewal and increase in funding will enable the Foundry to further their vision to continue increasing awareness, engagement, and skill development opportunities for Cleveland-area youth to safely become familiar with our Great Lake Erie and might Cuyahoga River through the lifelong sports of sailing and rowing.”
“We are honored to be included in the Ohio House of Representative’s FY2024 General Revenue Fund Budget. This critical support and public investment will fund much needed updates to improve public access to Lake Erie and accessibility to North Coast Harbor. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will create new outdoor community spaces and provide important public access to the lakefront in Downtown Cleveland,” said Greg Harris, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. “These spaces will host active programs with our community partners and also allow for free public use by Ohio residents. As an added benefit, our outdoor spaces will help improve storm water management while promoting green spaces. We look forward to the rest of the budget process and appreciate the support demonstrated by the Ohio House for this important project as we prepare to welcome our next 14 million visitors and continue to generate over $225 million per year in economic impact.”
Representative Callender was also successful in advocating for projects impacting people across Ohio including:
- An additional $30 million for the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, bringing their total over the biennium to $79.1 million.
- $2.5 million for Star House to provide services for homeless youth
- $500,000 for Flying Horse Farms to provide continuum of care services
- $2 million over the biennium for the ALS foundation to support those living with disease
- Increased the base cost of the fair school funding formula from 2018 to 2022 numbers, resulting in over a billion in extra funding for K-12 education across the biennium which will continue to lessen the reliance on local property tax.
“On behalf of Ohio’s statewide hunger relief network, we want to extend our sincere thanks to Representative Callender for his leadership in securing additional funding for the Ohio Food Program and Agricultural Clearance Program in the House omnibus bill,” said Lisa Hamler-Fugitt, executive director, Ohio Association of Foodbanks. “Ohio’s foodbanks are proud to partner with Rep. Callender and his colleagues in the Ohio General Assembly to efficiently and effectively direct healthy, wholesome food to Ohio families, workers and older adults facing hardship. We thank him for his service and support for our longtime public-private partnership and for his commitment to championing food security in the Ohio House.”
“State Representative Jamie Callender has been a longtime supporter of the Ohio ALS community. We value his leadership in the House and hope the Senate will keep this budget appropriation in the operating budget. These funds will help many people living with ALS in Ohio with catastrophic medical cost,” said Lisa Bruening, Director of Care Services – ALS Association Servicing Northern Ohio.
All of this was accomplished without reducing GRF commitments to either the Local Government Fund or Public Library Fund.
Also included in the house version of HB33 were several permanent law changes, including:
- The creation of regulation and licensure for art and music therapists across Ohio.
- Moves the primary election back to March in presidential years
- Requiring the State Fire Marshal, in coordination with the board of building standards and local representatives, to develop guidelines for the enforcement of the Ohio Building Code and Fire Code in a coordinated manner. It also excludes patio spaces that are open on 3 sides with means of egress compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act to not count against building occupancy.
- Establishes licensure and an advisory board for Doula services across Ohio
“The members of the Ohio wine community are very appreciative of the efforts of Representative Jamie Callender to address an ongoing issue which balances public safety with the need to protect the several hundred Ohio family- owned wineries’ financial viability,” said Donniella Winchell, Executive Director, Ohio Wine Producers Association. “Ohio’s $6.6 billion dollar industry, with over 300 wineries in every corner of the state, is ever-more important to the rural economies in many Ohio communities. His work will allow them to continue to invest in their vineyards and fine wines as well as to add local jobs as they support tourism efforts, their lodgers, eateries, livery services and more.”
“With the passage of HB33, the Ohio House committed to supporting not only our most vulnerable but people cross all walks and phases of life,” said Callender. “From offering training that supports good paying careers to those who need a helping hand to get through rough times, Ohio is investing in the infrastructure to enable all Ohioans to live fulfilling lives and experience the natural, cultural, and artistic wonders here in Ohio.”
With the passage of HB33, the bill now goes to the Ohio Senate for additional hearings.