State budget prompts tense local talk over property taxes, school funding

Sen. Michelle Reynolds, speaking at the Canal Winchester Board of Education meeting on July 14, summarized the recently passed state budget and its effects on school funding and property taxes and urged local school leaders to “be part of the solution.” Reynolds said the enacted budget increases state formula aid and that “the budget provides nearly $1,000,000,000 in state formula aid to public schools.”

The senator said the budget includes a $1.4 billion increase in formula aid within a total state K–12 investment she described as $23.87 billion and placed that increase in the context of prior biennia. She also told the board the legislature adopted a 40% cap on school cash carryover during conference committee — a compromise between House and Senate proposals — but that the governor vetoed that provision and 67 other line items before the measure reached final form.

Board members and local educators pressed Reynolds on details and impacts. District leaders said Canal…