Ohio lawmakers have reached a deal to resolve an impasse over a budget deficit by combining Gov. Ted Strickland's tax cut delay with a pilot project for new construction rules.
The deal was reached late Wednesday. It would avert $850 million in budget cuts to school districts.
Lawmakers plan to vote on the deal Thursday once the agreement can be translated into legislation.
The agreement contains Strickland's plan to delay the final 4.2 percent planned income tax reduction to erase the budget gap. It also establishes a pilot project to test out proposed changes to construction contracting that supporters say will save the state hundreds of millions of dollars.
A plan to make it easier for school districts to get out of a requirement that they provide all-day kindergarten also was included.