OHIO — Concerns over how the state’s proposed biennium budget will impact K-12 districts and families has already set in. While educators are seeing red flags, they’re hopeful since nothing is set in stone yet. 

What You Need To Know

  • $13 billion is slated to go to schools and districts each year

  • $1.1 billion is allocated for student wellness and success

  • $20 million school bus purchase program cut

  • Funding restored to 2019 levels with restoration to foundation funding that has an increase of $125 million doesn't sit well with many

Two weeks ago, Gov. Mike DeWine released his proposed biennium budget. Right now, $13 billion is slated to go to schools and districts each year across the state with a little more than $8 billion of that coming from state's generated tax revenue.

But some are already scratching their heads over the governor’s proposed budget.

A total of $1.1 billion is allocated for student wellness and success for Ohio's 1.7 million school children.

“For this school year, only about 53% of this year's student wellness funds have been spent. So, there's some question about how efficiently this drives money where the government wants it to go," said Stephen Dyer with the Ohio Education Association. 

There’s also $16 million allocated for 70,000 students earning industry-recognized credentials and an additional $25 million for the Innovative Workforce Incentive Program. While there are some other increases in areas like student assessments and the EdChoice Expansion Program, some cuts like the $20 million school bus purchase program raised a red flag for some. The state’s Office of Budget Management said it was viewed as a one-time program for 2021 and funded by a one-time cash transfer using money from the 2019 general revenue fund.

Sen. Teresa Fedor doesn’t buy it.

“The response on the transportation, being cut $20 million is a bureaucratic response. It's an excuse. We're going to be doing everything we can to get that money in there. It's inexcusable. We know we need more buses for the pandemic. What are they thinking?” Fedor said.

Others in the education arena like Melissa Cropper, the president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, wondered why much of the education budget is flat funded.

“The funding levels are the same as 2019 for the more actual funding of schools," Cropper said. However, the OBM said in addition to the student wellness money, total budget recommendations are increasing for the Department of Education in 2022 and 2023, and federal grant money is being restored to 2019 levels which is a $125 million increase.

“They’re saying we're restored which means they're admitting they gave us a huge cut because of the pandemic. Why would you give a cut in a pandemic? And then be, you know, OK and maybe proud that they restored those somewhat those cuts?" Fedor said.

While Cropper said it’s not keeping up with inflation, OBM noted that what’s recommended has to fit within estimated revenues from tax dollars for 2022 and 2023.

“So this is not a time to shortchange children, and this is not a time to supplant money is a time to use every dollar that we can possibly use from both the federal and the state level to invest in our children, and make sure they're prepared for the future," Cropper said.

As education advocates continue to push the need for a fair school funding bill, Cropper said, “The biggest concern is that we don't have a formula to figure out how all this money is allocated in a way that people spent three years determining was a fair way to allocate money.”

The $2.4 billion in federal emergency relief funding is slated to go schools and districts across the state to help with the ongoing response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and extended learning. But Cropper said districts will have more expenses over the next year or so because of the pandemic. And since federal dollars will eventually run out, aid from the state will be needed to meet the specific needs of students.