Rep. Ray Votes to Deliver Billions in Historic Property Tax Relief for Ohioans

COLUMBUS – State Representative Sharon Ray (R-Wadsworth) Wednesday voted in support of Am. Sub. House Bill 96 – the House’s version of the State Operating Budget. This fiscally responsible budget plan invests in Ohio families and the state’s future. 

“The vote on HB 96 – Ohio’s general operating budget – was one of the most difficult votes of my career,” said Ray. “There are several things included that I have strong reservations about; in the end, my yes vote was a reflection of what I believe is best for the citizens of House District 66.”

BOOSTING FUNDING FOR OHIO’S SCHOOLS

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. Medina County Schools will receive more dollars in the House budget than what they would have received under the Governor’s budget proposal or the Fair School Funding model.

FUNDING OUR LIBRARIES

Medina County libraries will receive $152,100 more in funding this biennium budget compared to the previous biennium budget. 

DELIVERING BILLIONS IN PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TO OHIOANS

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.

SUPPORTING OHIO FAMILIES

To help families who need assistance paying for child care, the budget establishes the Child Care Choice program, providing $100 million each fiscal year for eligible families, helping more Ohioans cover the cost of needed child care services. House Bill 96 also increases funding for the Help Me Grow program, which helps pregnant women, caregivers with new babies, and families with young children and children with developmental delays and disabilities have access to early intervention, developmental screenings, and more. 

PRIORITIZING WORKFORCE READINESS AND HIGHER EDUCATION IN OHIO

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.

House Bill 96 now goes to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.