Rep. Manning Votes on Budget Plan that Delivers Property Tax Relief for Ohioans, Schools to Receive Increase in State Funding

COLUMBUS – State Representative Gayle Manning (R-North Ridgeville) yesterday announced that the Ohio House of Representatives approved the conference committee report for Am. Sub. House Bill 96 –the State Operating Budget. The budget plan, which allocates funding for state programs and operations for the next two years, includes provisions that aim to protect freedom, family and fiscal responsibility – approving property tax relief for Ohioans and providing increased state funding for Ohio’s school districts. 

BOOSTING FUNDING FOR OHIO SCHOOLS 

The budget prioritizes the education and well-being of Ohio students, ensuring that school districts are funded through the final phase of the Cupp-Patterson funding model. Ohio public schools will receive nearly $700 million more for public education over the biennium than they received in FY25. 

“This budget increases funding for public education and completes the Cupp-Patterson formula, a step forward for Ohio’s students,” said Manning. “That said, I believe we must continue working toward stronger, more equitable funding for all public schools. While this budget boosts education investment, the growing needs in the classroom across our state mean there’s still more work to do. I remain committed to ensuring that every Ohio child has access to a fully funded, high-quality education.” 

PRIORITIZING WORKFORCE READINESS AND HIGHER EDUCATION 

This budget makes a marked effort to prioritize workforce readiness in Ohio, investing in various higher education programs such as the Governor’s Merit Scholarship, the Choose Ohio First Scholarship, and an increase in the State Share of Instruction by 1% each year, helping lower costs for students at Ohio’s state institutions of higher education. 

SUPPORTING OHIO FAMILIES 
To help families who need assistance paying for childcare, the budget establishes the Child Care Choice program, providing $100 million for eligible families, helping more Ohioans cover the cost of needed childcare services. The bill also increases funding for the Help Me Grow program, which is a system of supports for pregnant women, caregivers with new babies, and families with young children with developmental delays and disabilities

REVITALIZING LOCAL COMMUNITIES 
House Bill 96 continues to invest in various state initiatives that help solidify Ohio as the best place in the nation to live, work, raise a family and start a business. The bill increases funding for Brownfield Remediation, provides funding to help with blight and demolition, continued investments for the All Ohio Future Fund, further expands the Welcome Home Ohio program, and helps address the housing shortage across the state through targeted two new target initiatives designed to incentivize additional family home construction.

BACKING THE BLUE

This budget invests in supporting law enforcement and promoting public safety by providing $65 million over the biennium for local law enforcement training and $27 million over the biennium for the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center. Additionally, the budget includes $8 million to provide grants to small county volunteer fire departments.

DELIVERING PROPERTY TAX RELIEF TO OHIOANS 
Ohioans all over the state have called on the legislature to tackle rising property taxes, and members of the Ohio House are providing relief for taxpayers as soon as January 2026. The budget implements a process for schools that carry forward more than 40% of their general budget in unspent cash at the end of each year to be distributed back to Ohioans in property tax relief.

“While property tax relief is being delivered to Ohioans through House Bill 96, there is still more work to do in correlation to its impact to local school districts,” said Manning. “I would have liked the carry over cash balance cap percentage to have been higher. Throughout the budget process, I tirelessly advocated that House Bill 335 – inside millage was not included in this budget and am pleased that it was not included in the conference committee report.”

In addition, Manning was pleased to highlight the following provisions incorporated into the House’s budget bill:

• Commits $500,000 for the Neighborhood Alliance, supporting a homeless shelter and resources in Lorain County.
• Allocates $1,000,000  to Riveon Mental Health and Recovery, supporting primary care integration into the recovery process.
• Appropriates $500,000 to the National Inventors Hall of Fame, expanding STEM summer learning opportunities for students in grades K-6.
• Issues $300,000 for Senior Community Services, supporting the IConnect Program in Lorain, Medina, and Cuyahoga Counties.
• Provides $750,000 to the Lorain County Justice Center.
• Assigns $350,000 to the 1N5 Foundation, supporting suicide prevention efforts in schools. 

¿House Bill 96 now goes to the Governor for consideration.