Latest news with #H.B.96
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State budget drafts limit public schools' choices to get rid of buildings
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As Columbus City Schools work on the implementation plan to close down several school buildings, the Ohio legislature may change how public schools have to get rid of unused buildings. Ohio is drafting its biennial budget, a more than 5,000-page document that includes some new changes to how public schools can get rid of unused school buildings. The budget, House Bill 96, is still in Senate hearings after being passed by the House, but if left unchanged, public schools will now have to try to sell unused buildings — sometimes at a lower value — before they are allowed to demolish them. See previous coverage of how the budget could effect public schools in the video player above. How lawmakers want to change the teacher pension fund Ohio already requires public schools to offer to sell unused buildings to STEM, college preparatory and charter schools within the district's boundaries before selling them elsewhere or demolishing them. Under H.B. 96, schools would also have to offer sales to private schools. The state defines unused school buildings as any administrative or operational building owned by a public school that has not been used in more than a year, or any academic building operating at less than 60% capacity. In Gov. Mike DeWine's version of the bill, buildings that fall under 60% of the building's highest enrollment over 10 years would also count as unused, although the House removed that provision. Public districts must offer these buildings to other non-public schools first, and have to sell the building for the appraised fair market value of the property. If no one buys it, under current law, the school may then demolish it or put it up for public auction, then private sales. The state budget would invite more potential buyers at lower prices by inviting private schools to purchase them. DeWine's budget would also change how much schools could sell buildings for, adjusting sales prices from fair market value to the 'value of the property for operation as an educational facility.' The House also did not carry this provision over. Ohio lawmakers push for stricter rules on 'obscene' drag queens, indecent exposure Under H.B. 96, school districts would be required to put buildings up for public auction before they can demolish them. School districts would also be required to sell the land to the highest bidder at a public auction, making it more difficult for schools to demolish buildings. Both current law and the budget bill give preference to high-performing charter schools during building sales. However, H.B. 96 redefines a high-performing charter school to determine its performance based on the public schools around it, rather than solely on its achievements. Under current law, a community school must get three stars, or improve their score for three consecutive years in its achievement rating. Under H.B. 96, the achievement rating must be better than the public school district it resides in for two years in a row. The change directly equates charter schools' success with outperforming local public schools. Unused buildings that are located on or adjacent to land still actively used by the school are not required to be sold. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio schools making cuts after levy failures now face possible loss in state funds
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The Ohio House passed a budget opponents say will dramatically cut funds for public school districts, some of which are already facing tough financial decisions. The Ohio House elected not to implement the third and final phase of the Fair School Funding Act in House Bill 96, the state budget. The bipartisan act created a formula for school funding that would weigh individual school's demographics and needs to equitably disperse funds. Without Fair School Funding, the Ohio League of Women Voters estimates public schools will lose out on $400 million. Debate over Ohio's property tax relief continues More than half of Ohio's school district levies failed in November, including levies to support Reynoldsburg, Marysville and Westerville schools. All three districts are facing major budget cuts without levy funds, and representatives said losing the Fair School Funding Plan could cost them crucial funds. Reynoldsburg communications director Valerie Wunder said the district has not received new funding in 15 years and is examining how state budget proposals could affect the schools. Left-leaning nonprofit Policy Matters Ohio estimates Reynoldsburg could lose more than $31 million over the next two years without the Fair School Funding Act. See previous coverage of Reynoldsburg's budget cuts in the video player above. 'We are not making any definitive statements about future budgets; however based on preliminary information, H.B. 96 may result in revisiting district expenditures and expenses,' Wunder said. 'We anticipate it would not be favorable.' Reynoldsburg has already had to revisit its expenses in recent months. After November's levy failed, Reynoldsburg schools had to cut $8.5 million from its budget. The district has cut $8.3 million so far by reducing support staff, cutting 51 teachers and increasing pay-to-participate fees. Licking County superintendents get more time to prepare after Intel, Microsoft delays Marysville Treasurer and CFO Todd Johnson said Marysville has a very low cost per pupil, and has not passed a new levy in 17 years. It's not for lack of trying; Marysville has had two levies fail since the last state budget was under consideration, including a close vote in November that failed by less than a 2% margin. On March 20, Marysville Board of Education approved two dozen staff cuts in subjects like art, music and gym, joining previously approved pay-to-play fee increases. These cuts would hopefully be restored if voters approve the emergency operating levy in May, but Johnson said reductions in state funding would only intensify budget trimming. 'Quite frankly, it doesn't matter where the money comes from whether it be state funding or a local levy, we will need additional funds to maintain our level of service which has already been decreased,' Johnson said. Marysville and Reynoldsburg are just two of many Ohio districts making difficult financial decisions. Westerville already has to cut 30 teachers next school year to address a funding shortfall after a levy failure. Ohio budget plan renews high-speed rail chances Several Westerville district representatives testified against H.B. 96, including Superintendent Angie Hamberg. Hamberg said the district would quickly run out of cash without adequate state funding, requiring hefty programming cuts. She said their only option would be to pass a series of small levies to offset the costs, but she was not optimistic that would be feasible. The House budget is not final and now goes to the Senate for consideration. Local school districts have encouraged families to request more funding in the state budget during legislative hearings. 'I'm sure legislators are hearing a lot from people that don't like paying taxes, but I hope they balance that with those people that want a quality school system for their kids with the same level of opportunities that we had growing up,' Johnson said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How Ohio's proposed budget could change how public schools are funded
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As public schools in Reynoldsburg face $8 million in budget cuts and those in Marysville hope their third levy in a row does not fail, central Ohio school districts worry they could lose millions more in funding. Central Ohio school district representatives testified against House Bill 96, Ohio's budget bill draft, fearing its current version will bring dramatic funding losses. As it stands, the bill reduces some state support for public schools, a loss local districts say would be brutal. T-Pain headlines latest 2025 Ohio State Fair concert announcements 'If the state isn't providing their share of the funding then our local community, taxpayers, have to pay the difference,' Columbus City Schools Superintendent Angela Chapman said. 'So that means that we'll be coming back to our community and back to the voters for another ballot potentially.' Ohio's school funding has been in question for decades and was ruled unconstitutional in the 1990s by the Ohio Supreme Court. Howard Fleeter is a consultant who has been studying Ohio's school funding since the court case, which said the system at the time disadvantaged rural and low-income districts and relied too heavily on property taxes. He said the current funding system is as close to Constitutional as he has seen, but it requires the adjustments districts are asking for. Ohio's public schools are funded using a formula that weighs specific school and district operating costs when calculating state support. Under H.B. 96, school districts will update their formula inputs with 2025 financial data, but the state will estimate costs with 2022 pricing, affecting the formula. Further, Gov. Mike DeWine proposed reducing the guaranteed minimum funding districts receive by 5% in 2026 and 10% in 2027, removing protections for districts. The formula works to be equitable, giving more money to districts with more financial need. By not increasing both district and state inputs, the formula registers schools as demonstrating less need, leading to decreased state funding. Policy Matters Ohio identified 349 public school districts in Ohio that would see a funding cut, and how much they would lose over the next two years. Telehealth abortion care provider launches in Ohio, drawing backlash As administrators testified against the bill, Bexley and Columbus City Schools asked families also to contact lawmakers, both for their students and their wallets. With less state funding, districts often turn to property tax levies to supplement lost costs. Worthington school Treasurer TJ Cusick testified against the bill, saying the budget as is would cost them 10% of their state funding, a $2.2 million loss next year alone. Cusick said if H.B. 96 stays in this form, Worthington would be required to increase its next levy by two-thirds of a mill to make up for the state funding losses to break even. Although districts update income and property value increases in the funding formula, they are not allowed to update them in other funding sources. A 1976 tax relief law prevents most school district levies from adjusting with inflation. Property tax levies are also more likely to fail in more rural or low-income areas. Of the districts included in the chart, eight had a levy on the ballot in May or November 2024. Five districts' levies failed, including Madison-Plains, which failed in both November and May. Those districts have a collective average of 42.3% of economically disadvantaged students, where the three that passed averaged 18.8%, according to state data. U.S. Department of Education targeting Ohio State University for antisemitism Westerville City Schools Treasurer Nicole Marshall said her district's state funding has decreased by 20% since 2021, and the district lost $4 million this year after updating its share of the formula without the state doing the same. Olentangy Superintendent Todd Meyer said H.B. 96 would drop his district's state funding per pupil to about $556 less than the state gives to nonpublic schools per pupil. He said public schooling is not for everyone, but public dollars should support public schools first. The difference between public and nonpublic school funding stuck out to many local administrators. Reynoldsburg school board member Neal Whitman pointed to the $265 million increase in funding for Ohio's EdChoice voucher system, which gives state-sponsored vouchers to students to attend private school. Whitman said this will be an 8.2% increase for state vouchers over the next two years. Fleeter said by the nature of his work, he maintains neutrality regarding Ohio's vouchers but said voucher funds affect fewer students. According to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, EdChoice voucher students made up 7.8% of K-12 students in the 2023-2024 school year, where public school students represented 82%. Ollie's acquires 40 more Big Lots stores; other locations face restructuring hurdles 'The idea that they're willing to substantially increase the funding for vouchers, if they then argue, 'We don't have the money to put the money into the formula,' that's not a very compelling argument for me,' Fleeter said. H.B. 96 is still moving through the House and has scheduled Finance Committee hearings this week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
