Richardson Calls for Educational Funding to be Restored in Budget

COLUMBUS – State Representative Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville) urges for improvements to educational funding as the Ohio House rejects the Senate’s budget provisions in the state operating budget recently. 

In April, the House finalized their version of the two-year operating budget. The budget passed by the House was balanced and funded four key education priorities. These priorities were the fair school funding formula, school choice, career-technical education, and early childhood education. 

Members of the House, including Richardson, believe that the Senate’s changes to the budget fail to fairly fund all of those priorities. 

“Our chamber sent a very balanced education budget to the Senate for their consideration,” said Richardson. “It protected the integrity of the fair school funding formula while expanding school choice eligibility. It also provided key funding for growing career-technical education and early childhood education programs across the state.”

The Senate made significant changes to the fair school funding formula and expanded the EdChoice voucher program. The changes to the fair school funding formula will shift financial responsibility to local school districts and constituents, likely resulting in a need for more school levies. Additionally, the Senate removed $100 million in funding for new career-technical facilities and reduced early childhood education program support by $32 million. 

“I support the expansion of school choice funding because it provides greater options for parents on behalf of their children,” Richardson added. “The State of Ohio has the opportunity to expand school choice for all and the funding to properly support our local public schools. My hope is that the House will lead the charge in fairly funding both priorities.” 

The legislation will now head to conference committee where members of the House and the Senate will work out the differences in the budget before the June 30 deadline. 

Updated forecasts provided by the Legislative Budget Office and the Office of Budget and Management have indicated there will be an additional $816 million in tax revenue to consider appropriating during conference committee negotiations.