Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan Votes "NO" on Ohio Budget That Prioritizes the Wealthy Over Working Families

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) announced today that he voted “NO” on the proposed Ohio biennial state budget, citing deep concerns that the bill prioritizes wealthy individuals and powerful interests over working families, schoolchildren, and seniors in communities like Parma.

“This budget gives away the store to billionaires while taking food off the table for working Ohioans,” said Rep. Brennan. “It slashes essential services, underfunds public schools, and provides no meaningful property tax relief—while handing $600 million to the billionaire Haslam family for a stadium project and delivering a flat tax that overwhelmingly benefits the richest Ohioans. That is not responsible budgeting—it’s redistribution in the wrong direction.”

Under the proposed budget:

1. 1. 1. Parma City Schools will lose millions in funding, threatening programs, staffing, and the quality of education in one of Ohio’s largest suburban districts;
      2. Ohio food banks, libraries, and community health care providers face funding cuts, making it harder for families to access essential services during times of need;
      3. The proposed flat tax system will deliver the biggest benefits to high-income earners, while middle-class and lower-income Ohioans will see little or no relief—many could even end up paying more in the long run; and
      4. The $600 million earmarked for a new stadium is effectively a public subsidy for one of the wealthiest families in the state, the Haslams, owners of the Cleveland Browns—money that could be spent fixing roads, boosting education, or expanding access to mental health care.

“Budgets are moral documents, and this one tells Ohioans that if you’re wealthy or well-connected, you win. But if you’re a working parent, a teacher, a senior on a fixed income, or a student in Parma—you’re being asked to sacrifice even more,” said Rep. Brennan.

Rep. Brennan also noted the absence of substantive property tax relief for those who need it most, including seniors and low-income homeowners. Instead, the budget penalizes school districts with healthy reserves, further destabilizing public education.

“I came to Columbus to fight for fairness, opportunity, and common sense. I will not vote for a budget that fails the people I represent. Ohio deserves better,” said Rep. Brennan.