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Senator Beagle
Announces Passage of Senate Budget Proposal
COLUMBUS – State Senator Bill Beagle (R-Tipp City) today announced the
Senate’s passage of the state’s two-year budget proposal with a vote of
23-10. The bill includes substantial new funding for education and more
than $1.75 billion in net tax relief for hardworking Ohioans and small
business owners.
“While creating the State budget, we have to juggle many demands, and
we have done a good job addressing our top priorities," said Senator
Beagle. "We have worked on making Ohio a business friendly state,
included policies that will create new jobs, continued to address the
concerns of those in need, added funding to our schools, and focused on
our regional needs in the Miami Valley.”
The Senate budget includes a number of amendments submitted by Senator
Beagle, which:
Creates Jobs: Senate proposal retains $2.5 million for the Dayton
Midtown Redevelopment Project, which is revitalizing the old downtown
fairgrounds to develop an economically sustainable research corridor
for high-tech jobs and medical-related businesses in the Miami Valley
Hospital neighborhood. This will create 875 new permanent jobs.
Provides Racino Funding for Dayton: Language that will provide the City
of Dayton money that was originally agreed to under contract.
Improves OhioMeansJobs: Several changes are included for the
OhioMeansJobs Revolving Loan Fund which was created with the passage of
Senate Bill 1 in the 130th General Assembly. These changes help to
ensure that the program runs more efficiently and will be available for
students in high-demand programs this fall.
Developmental Disabilities: Included $8,500 to the Preble County Board
of Developmental Disabilities for the "Play and Language for Autistic
Youngsters Project".
Creates Responsible Facility Closure Process: Requires a commission to
be created when a developmental disabilities center closes to report on
the feasibility of the closure. This language requires that at least
one member of the commission be a family member of a person living in
the center.
Connects Students with Employers: Reestablishes the Third Frontier
Internship Program. This program works to connect potential employers
with a pool of qualified candidates and encouraging more permanent job
placements.
Supports Mentorship Programs: Allocates a million dollars over two
years to a Big Brothers Big Sisters program geared towards children
with incarcerated parents.
Identifies Workforce Needs: while will work on studying workforce
development issues and trends in the Region, including workforce
development system options for in-demand jobs and identifying supply
and demand of in-demand job areas.
Maintains Historic Rehabilitations Credits: Maintains Ohio's support
for historic rehabilitation projects by ensuring that projects will
continue to receive tax credits upon completion.
Streamlines Vital Services: Created a program geared towards those
currently receiving assistance from Jobs and Family services that will
have wrap around services for 16-24 year olds, including
workforce training, and creates a commission to research and report the
way federal funds are spent in Ohio on Jobs and Family Services
programs. This measure spends no state dollars, while keeping federal
dollars accountable.
“All of these changes come with an emphasis of serving Ohioans better,
whether that be with services they need or jobs that may be created. I
appreciate the opportunity to be a part of a process that continues to
strengthen Ohio’s workforce and economy.,” said Senator Beagle.
Among the major highlights in the bill, the Senate plan:
Tax Cuts: Reduces Ohio’s income tax rate by 6.3 percent, returning
$1.26 billion to taxpayers over the next two years, allowing Ohioans
the opportunity to keep more of their hard-earned money.
Small Business Tax Relief: Eliminates the entire state tax burden on
small businesses with income up to $250,000 and creates an innovative,
new 3 percent flat tax for small businesses above that income level.
This allows small businesses, the backbone of Ohio's economy, the
opportunity to invest back into job creation and infrastructure.
Reduces Spending: Overall spends less than any previous state budget
plan introduced this year. It also reduces proposed overall Medicaid
spending by more than $1 billion, giving the state the opportunity to
focus on finding efficiencies and improved patient outcomes.
Investing in K-12: Invests more than $935 million new dollars into
students and schools over the next two years ($351.5 million in FY16
and maintains that additional funding in FY17 and adds $233 million
more), holds all districts harmless to FY15 funding amounts. It
provides an opportunity for predictability and sustainability for
school districts, driving additional dollars to low-wealth,
low-capacity districts while ensuring more districts are on the funding
formula. The Senate-passed version of the budget also implements
various testing reform recommendations of the Senate Advisory Committee
on Testing, such as reducing hours of required testing.
Higher Ed Affordability and Support: Makes the largest state investment
in SSI (state share of instruction) for higher education in eight
years. The bill also gives college students and their families the
opportunity for a more affordable college education by instituting a
two-year freeze on tuition rate increases and requiring Ohio’s public
universities and colleges to find ways to reduce student costs by five
percent.
Support for Essential Services: Restores or provides additional funding
for essential services, such as pregnancy care, breast and cervical
cancer screenings for women, foodbank services, various health care and
youth programs, all which give Ohioans opportunities to improve their
lives, health and economic situation.
The budget bill will now return to the Ohio House of Representatives
where it is expected to be referred to a conference committee in which
the House and Senate versions will be reconciled. The Ohio Constitution
requires that the budget be balanced, and, by law, the bill must be
signed by the Governor on or before July 1.
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