Senate Officially Passes Bold Operating Budget Plan for Next Two Years

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Senate approved sweeping tax relief in the form of a flat income tax that beats most of all of the surrounding states and significant property tax reforms to help seniors while investing an additional $634 million into K-12 public schools.

"I applaud President Rob McColley and Chairman Jerry Cirino for leading the charge on this wide-ranging and significant budget for Ohio," said Senator Schaffer. "By phasing-in a 2.75% flat income tax, we reduce the burden placed on everyday Ohioans and for those making less than $26,050, they will continue to pay zero state income taxes.

"By maintaining a proper and balanced budget, Ohio remains a standard as a national leader for business and economic growth. I'm proud to join my colleagues in supporting this budget." said Schaffer.

Senator Schaffer also secured critical funding for local organizations in his district. This includes $350,000 for the Buckeye Lake Region Corporation to support community development and $700,000 for the Fairfield County Workforce Center.

"The Senate's budget returns Ohio's property tax system to the anti-inflationary measures originally intended," Schaffer said. "Over the years, certain levies have been passed that bypass those protections."

On property tax reforms, the Senate's budget prohibits new emergency and new replacement levies, while expanding Ohio's Homestead Exemption to bring relief to seniors.

"We need to bring relief to seniors who have paid-off  their homes, but can not afford the skyrocketing property taxes,” Schaffer said. “This budget bill takes great steps to provide that relief."

The Senate's budget also includes 10 amendments from Senator Schaffer to improve on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid including:

• Require Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to allow SNAP participants to call a customer service hotline to lock an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card that has been lost or stolen.
• Require ODJFS to update its computer systems with case worker tracking and auditing software that is used to determine eligibility for public assistance benefits.
• Require County Departments of Job and Family Services to provide case work training about improper benefit determinations.
• Require ODJFS to monitor SNAP EBT balances of over $5,000 to make sure benefits are being used properly.
• Prohibits ODJFS from seeking a waiver from work requirements that apply to able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDS).
• Require ODJFS to notify the General Assembly when implementing a federal option.
• Update the current ODJFS quarterly report on SNAP that includes the following information:
  • The number of SNAP accounts with whole dollar transactions.
  • The number of SNAP EBT cards reported lost and stolen and the amount of funds that have been stolen through fraudulent methods.
  • Any enhancements made to SNAP EBT cards during the quarter.
  • SNAP EBT card payment error rates.
• Require ODJFS to notify the General Assembly of any public assistance waiver or state plan amendment 30 days before it is submitted.
• Require ODJFS to conduct an analysis of public assistance programs and implement a plan to increase employment among the number of individuals receiving public assistance benefits.
• Requires Ohio Department of Medicaid to report payment errors and confirmed cases of intentional program violations.

"I'm proud to support the Senate’s reforms of Ohio’s public assistance benefits programs such as SNAP and Medicaid,” Schaffer said. “These reforms will lead to better data and determinations in these programs while weeding out fraud, waste and abuse and preserving crucial funding for families in crisis being served by these critical programs.”

Additionally, the Senate is investing $30 million over the biennium into veterinary medicine at The Ohio State University, an amendment Schaffer advocated strongly for. The money would be specifically used to increase enrollment of students from Ohio.

Additional amendments carried successfully by Schaffer include enhancements to Ohio's H2Ohio Program by investing an additional $20 million over the biennium into the Department of Agriculture's efforts to protect water quality and a requirement that local  government develop cybersecurity plans to ward off the problems of cyber attacks.

The budget now moves back to the House for further debate between the chambers.

"The $60.23 billion budget is balanced, and represents responsible growth driven by the economy, while building on the Senate's history of reducing the overall tax burden on Ohio taxpayers," Schaffer said.

###