State Budget Update: House Budget Proposal Maintains PLF at 1.68% of GRF
Late last week, the Ohio House Finance Committee accepted a substitute version of the state’s biennial budget bill, House Bill (HB) 166. The 2,731-page substitute bill was accompanied by the Legislative Services Commission’s 575-page comparison document.
- HB 166 Substitute Bill as Pending in House Finance Committee (PDF, 2,731 pages)
- LSC Comparison Document (PDF, 575 pages)
Overall, the House is not proposing significant changes to Gov. DeWine’s original proposal. However, there are few key areas where they are proposing changes, especially related to tax reform: The following Columbus Dispatch articles provide more details:
- Ohio House to Slash Tax Breaks for High-Earning Business Owners
- More Education Money, Low Income Tax Cuts Part of House Budget Changes
As for the Public Library Fund (PLF), the House did not make any changes to the Governor’s proposal and recommends maintaining the PLF at 1.68% in FY20 and FY21. That said, some of the House’s proposed tax changes will increase the state’s overall GRF base.
The House Finance Committee is continuing its deliberations on the budget bill.
More than 500 additional amendments were submitted to the chairman’s office by yesterday’s 2 p.m. deadline. The committee is scheduled to meet on Tues., May 7 to consider an omnibus amendment before reporting the bill out of committee. HB 166 will then move to the full House for a vote. The OLC will provide a detailed summary of the House’s changes once a final version is completed this week.
OLC to Testify on HB 166 on Thursday
The Senate has already begun budget hearings on HB 166. The OLC is scheduled to testify on Thurs., May 9, at 9:30 a.m. in the Senate Finance Higher Education Committee. Please watch for additional state budget updates from the OLC, including new talking points as the state budget process moves to the Ohio Senate.
