Rep. Lett Issues Statement on Senate Substitute Budget Bill

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Crystal Lett (D-Columbus) today expressed her disappointment with the Senate’s budget sub bill. The 5,565 page proposal includes a $1B cut to Medicaid, continues the House’s removal of publicly funded childcare to families earning up to 160% of the federal poverty level, and eliminates the Child Care Cred Program. At the same time, it establishes a 2.75% flat income tax and diverts $600M in unclaimed funds to the Cleveland Browns—a shift from the House’s original proposal, which funded the Browns through a bond package.

“The proposed budget continues to fall short on funding schools and solving property tax issues, while ultimately putting vulnerable Ohioans at even greater risk of losing their healthcare. We can do better. Ohioans deserve the very best, but this budget stands to harm working families. If we cannot properly fund schools or aid the childcare crisis, then we should not be spending $600M on a stadium. This is not how we should be investing in our future,” said Rep. Lett.

There is currently $4.8B in unclaimed funds from forgotten bank accounts, insurance payouts, and tax refunds. (To see if you have unclaimed funds, please use the Ohio Unclaimed Property Portal.)

While the Senate’s budget proposal increased the school funding guarantee amount, to be fully funded, schools would need an additional $600M at least. The Senate also raised the cap on school districts’ rainy-day funds to 50%, which would mean that schools must refund anything above that threshold back to the taxpayer.