Vacationland Times

State Representative Gary Click has supported the advancement of House Bill 96, a state budget proposal focused on property tax relief, school funding, and other major initiatives for Ohioans. The bill promises over $4 billion in property tax relief and increased school funding for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.

"H.B. 96 includes record investments for Ohio students, libraries, and communities," said Click. "I am proud of the job the Ohio House did to ensure that this Operating Budget addresses the needs of Ohioans, and I am particularly excited for the much-needed provision to promote dropout recovery."

House Bill 96 ensures increased school funding, providing public schools with an additional $207.6 million for the fiscal year 2026 compared to the previous year, rising to $347.6 million more for fiscal year 2027. In total, state aid for public schools will see a $555.2 million increase over two years.

The bill's property tax relief effort implements a policy requiring school districts with unspent cash exceeding 30% of their annual expenditures to return funds to Ohioans, contributing to the $4 billion total relief. Since 2012, district cash carryovers have grown from $3.6 billion to $10.5 billion.

Local communities are set to benefit from increased funding for programs like Brownfield Remediation and Welcome Home Ohio, addressing the housing shortage, alongside the Child Care Choice program, which allocates $100 million annually for eligible families struggling with childcare costs.

Higher education and workforce readiness also receive attention, with funding boosts for scholarships and a 2% increase in the State Share of Instruction, designed to lower costs for students. Support continues for the TechCred program, enhancing skill development opportunities for Ohio's workforce.

House Bill 96 strengthens school choice, increasing award amounts for special needs scholarships and creating education savings accounts for children attending non-chartered non-public schools.

The bill aims to enhance Medicaid transparency by implementing new reporting requirements to address financial oversight issues.

House Bill 96 is now set to be reviewed by the Ohio Senate for further consideration.