Ohio Budget

This week the Ohio Supreme Court might decide if we have an August special election to decide whether to make it harder to change the Ohio Constitution.

Lisa Hamler-Fugitt with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks is not happy with changes the Senate Finance Committee made to the proposal the House passed.

The Ohio Senate Finance Committee has released its working budget, and it includes many changes from the budget passed by the House.

The House version of the state budget keeps funding for the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services above current levels, but eliminates an increase in funding put in by Gov. Mike DeWine.

Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said he's looking at changes to tax policy and education as his chamber gets the budget from the Ohio House.

Several lawmakers wanted to propose more than two dozen amendments to the budget, but the vote in the end was overwhelming.

The House Republicans' version of Ohio's two-year spending plan is likely to voted out of committee Wednesday, with a full House vote possible next week.

There was no income tax cut in Gov. Mike DeWine's initial plan, but Republicans in the House and Senate have said they want to see one.

The Ohio House Finance Committee will begin holding hearings this week.

The plan spends nearly $87 billion over two years, but DeWine’s budget office said it’s a conservative and fiscally responsible plan.