COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio House of Representatives today approved a new two-year state budget, after several weeks of deadlock on the measure.
The $69 billion budget includes record funding levels for schools, as well as large investments in foster care, higher education and initiatives for seniors.
“Our focus has been rebuilding families and communities, and this budget plan is a major step forward toward those goals,” said House Speaker Larry Householder (R-Glenford). “With this plan, we are helping families keep more of what they earn, supporting the schools their kids attend and investing in programs that make a real difference in their communities.”
The budget also includes a 4% reduction in the personal income tax rate and eliminates the personal income tax for those earning less than $21,750.
Funding for the state's schools increases 4.1% for the 2019-2020 school year, an increase of $381.8 million. Another $20 million will be provided to districts to purchase school buses. There is a 2% increase slated for the 2020-2021 school year.
The measure now goes to Governor Mike DeWine who is expected to sign the bill before tonight's midnight deadline.