NE Ohio Times

State Representative Sarah Fowler Arthur (R-Ashtabula) has cast her vote in favor of House Bill 96, which represents the House’s vision for the State Operating Budget. This budget emphasizes $4 billion in property tax relief for Ohioans and stipulates school funding increases for every district during fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

Fowler Arthur remarked, “We are fulfilling our commitment to reduce unfunded mandates on public schools by eliminating many new mandates proposed by the Governor.” Some of these removed mandates involve the universal diagnostic assessment requirement for K-3 and changes related to statewide Educational Resource Services System (ERSS) teams and school bus driver training.

The budget, supported by Fowler Arthur, will prevent funding losses for districts, including more than 342 that were facing cuts under the Governor’s proposal. She also endorsed the creation of a school transportation workgroup and a flexible Principal Apprenticeship Pathway. The budget sets measures for student success, wellness, literacy, and numeracy, backed by federal funding, and it provides options for fulfilling Financial Literacy requirements.

The budget proposal directs increased focus on K-12 education, returning resources to teachers and students. It caps district administration costs and ensures property tax returns if district budgets exceed a certain threshold. “Despite less funding in this biennium’s operating budget, the House was able to ensure all public schools receive more state funding than the last budget,” stated Fowler Arthur.

House Bill 96 plans to enhance funding for schools, increasing state aid for public schools by $555.2 million over the next biennium. For Ohio taxpayers, it introduces a procedure ensuring over $4 billion in property tax relief by redistributing unspent school funds. Fowler Arthur also backed ongoing state initiatives aiming to make Ohio more livable and work-friendly, including programs addressing housing shortages and environmental improvements.

Additional budget initiatives focus on supporting families and prioritizing higher education and workforce readiness. A new Child Care Choice program allocates $100 million annually for families needing childcare cost assistance. Funding for programs like Help Me Grow will also increase. To promote workforce readiness, the budget invests in higher education scholarships and maintains support for Ohio’s TechCred program.

House Bill 96 expands school choice opportunities, enhancing scholarships and allowing education savings accounts for non-chartered non-public school attendees. It also aims to increase Medicaid transparency through new reporting measures. The bill has moved to the Ohio Senate for further evaluation.