Patton Supports and Ohio House Approves State Budget Proposal, Heads to Senate
Today, State Rep. Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) 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.
“I’m very happy to see this balanced plan move forward today,” said Patton. “It encompasses lots of work in thinking about priorities for our citizens – tax relief, job creation, public safety, and supporting our schools. This budget puts the people of Ohio first.”
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.
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.
Patton also proposed an amendment added to the bill regarding a traffic safety study for the local area that:
· Requires the Director of Transportation to conduct a traffic safety study for roads and highways in Strongsville, North Royalton, and Brunswick, in conjunction with their chief executive officers and legislative authorities.
· Requires the Director to submit a report of the study's findings (and potentially solutions to the safety concerns) to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, the chairpersons of the transportation committees in the House and Senate, and the chief executive officer and the legislative authority of Strongsville, North Royalton, and Brunswick respectively.
· Requires the Director of Transportation to use up to $100,000 in fiscal year 2022 from the Highway Operating Fund through funding available under the federal flexible spending program, to pay for the costs of the study.
The budget plan, under House Bill 110, now heads to the Senate for further action.