House Finance Committee adopts omnibus amendment to HB 96, advances state operating budget after testimony on school funding and foster scholarships

The Ohio House Finance Committee on April 8 accepted an omnibus amendment to the state operating budget and voted 19-10 to favorably report amended substitute House Bill 96 to the Rules and Reference Committee after hours of testimony on school funding and a foster-to-college scholarship proposal.

The omnibus amendment (Amendment 2698-1) reflecting additional House changes to the state operating bill was accepted by voice vote during the committee meeting; the committee later voted by roll call to favorably report amended substitute HB 96 to Rules and Reference, 19-10.

Why it matters: HB 96 is the state operating bill that will reach the House floor; the committee’s action moves the amended measure toward full-chamber debate and a final vote. Witnesses and members used the hearing to press budgetary priorities and to flag potential consequences of specific provisions, notably an amendment discussed in testimony that would direct the auditor to suspend property tax collections for districts whose unreserved cash balances exceed 25 percent.

Superintendent Angie Hamburg, superintendent for the Westerville City School District, told the committee that her district of nearly 15,000 students — which employs almost 2,000 people and spans Franklin and Delaware counties — relies on planned cash balances to cover recurring operations as state support falls.

"Only looking at a year of the forecast ... The only band aid we have right now is our cash balance, and like many districts, losing it abruptly would…