Tuesday, May 31, 2011

State Budget Update

State Budget Update

I just wanted to give you an update on the State Budget. Preliminary reports regarding the Senate's substitute budget bill (HB 153) indicate that the following will be included:

• Restoration, for all districts, FY2011 levels of state foundation formula funding (minus stimulus dollars) for both FY2012 and FY2013.

• A $17/pupil award for all districts in which report card rankings were excellent or excellent with distinction.

• Removal of most of the language mirroring provisions in S. B. 5.

• Removal of most of the language inserted by the House that would liberalize charter and voucher authority.

The Senate Finance Committee is expected to accept the sub bill later today and hold a committee vote no later than next Tuesday. The full Senate would then vote on Thursday, June 9th.

Following passage by the Senate, the bill would go to the House for concurrence on the Senate amendments – which never happens on a budget bill – following which a conference committee would be formed to settle the difference in the two versions.

The Senate version would restore approximately $1.5 million of the $4.9 million planned to be cut in the original Governor's budget. This indicates significant progress but our continual communication is as vital as ever as the Senate and House both need to hear from us. The planned Senate version of the budget is a step in the right direction.

Please stay in touch with our legislators, your voice is making a difference!
Below is the contact information for our lawmakers in Columbus:

State Senator Tom Patton
24th Senate District
Senate Building
1 Capitol Square, 1st Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 466-8056
SD24@senate.state.oh.us

State Representative Marlene Anielski (Broadview Heights portion of our school district)
17th House District
77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 644-6041
Fax: (614) 719-6956
district17@ohr.state.oh.us

State Representative Mike Dovilla
18th House District (North Royalton portion of our school district)
77 S. High St
12th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111
Phone: (614) 466-4895
Fax: (614) 719-6957
district18@ohr.state.oh.us

Sincerely,

Dan Langshaw
North Royalton School Board Member

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