Majority Whip Santucci Votes in Support of House Budget Bill, Delivering Billions in Property Tax Relief and Strategic Investments Across Ohio
Majority Whip Nick Santucci (R- Niles) today voted in support of Am. Sub. House Bill 96 – the House’s version of the State Operating Budget. This forward-looking, fiscally responsible budget plan invests in Ohio families and the state’s future – approving over $4 billion in record property tax relief for Ohioans and ensuring that every school district in the state receives an increase in school funding in fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
“House Bill 96 is a major win for Trumbull County and communities across the state,” said Santucci. “From historic property tax relief and targeted investments in our workforce, to stronger support for schools, manufacturers, and infrastructure, this budget delivers on the issues that matter most to Ohioans. I’m proud to support a plan that responsibly invests in our people and positions our state for long-term success.”
TRUMBULL COUNTY IMPROVEMENTS
The budget directs significant resources to key projects in Trumbull County, including capital improvements to Mosquito Lake State Park and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers Stadium—enhancing local tourism, recreation, and economic activity.
SUPPORTING OHIO MANUFACTURERS
The legislation provides vital assistance to Ohio’s small- and medium-sized manufacturers through the Manufacturing Technologies Assistance Grant Program. This initiative offers funding for advanced technologies that improve competitiveness and help upskill the state’s industrial workforce.
STRENGTHENING AIRPORT AND MILITARY INFRASTRUCTURE
House Bill 96 invests in the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, and Camp James A. Garfield Military Training Center. Additional resources are provided through Airport Infrastructure Grant matching funds to support essential construction and repair projects.
DELIVERING BILLIONS IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF
In an effort to provide much-needed property tax relief to Ohioans, the bill implements a process for schools that carry forward more than 30 percent in unspent cash at the end of each year to be distributed back to Ohioans in the form of property tax relief, totaling more than $4 billion. District cash carryovers have increased year over year since tracking began in 2012, from $3.6 billion then to $10.5 billion today. In FY24, 486 traditional school districts carried over cash greater than 30 percent of their expenditures for that year.
PRIORITIZING WORKFORCE READINESS AND HIGHER EDUCATION
This budget makes a marked effort to prioritize workforce readiness in Ohio, investing in various higher education programs such as the Governor’s Merit Scholarship, the Choose Ohio First Scholarship, and an increase in the State Share of Instruction by 2%, helping lower costs for students at Ohio’s state institutions of higher education. The bill also continues support for Ohio’s TechCred program, which allows employers to upskill current or future employees at no cost to them.
REVITALIZING COMMUNITIES
House Bill 96 will continue and enhance various state initiatives that help solidify Ohio as the best place in the nation to live, work, raise a family and start a business. The bill increases funding for Brownfield Remediation, further improves the Welcome Home Ohio program, and helps address the housing shortage across our state.
BOOSTING SCHOOL FUNDING
House Bill 96 prioritizes the education and well-being of students, ensuring that every school district in the State of Ohio receives an increase in funding over the next biennium. Compared to today, this budget provides public schools with $207.6 million more in FY26 than they received in FY25, and in FY27, that increases to $347.6 million above their FY25 support. This equates to a $555.2 million increase in state aid for public schools over the coming biennium. Under the House plan, every student in Ohio will receive more per-pupil funding from the state.
House Bill 96 now heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.