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Columbus council urges state to fully fund schools, says proposed budget would cut district funding
Summary
Columbus City Council adopted a resolution calling on the Ohio General Assembly and the governor to fully implement a fair school funding plan, after Columbus City Schools leaders told council the governor's proposed budget would cut about $45 million from the district over two years.
Columbus City Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Ohio General Assembly and Governor Mike DeWine to fulfill what council described as their constitutional duty to properly fund public schools, citing a projected funding shortfall for Columbus City Schools.
Superintendent (name not specified in the public record) told council Columbus City Schools is the state’s largest district with more than 47,000 students, including over 8,000 students with exceptional needs and more than 10,000 students from non-English-speaking households. The superintendent said the governor’s proposed two-year operating budget “would cut over $45,000,000 from our district over the next two years,” a figure the district says arises from state calculations that rely on increased property tax valuations without matching the true cost of educating students.
"If passed, these cuts would force us to use funds from our recently passed levy to cover the gap, taking away essential resources our students need," the superintendent said, recounting recent testimony he and Treasurer Ryan Cook delivered to the Ohio House Education Committee.
Board President Goll, speaking after the superintendent, urged public advocacy and said shifting the burden of school funding to local property taxpayers was unjustified. "There's no excuse to shift the burden of 90%… That is 10 cents of every dollar on the community," Goll said, arguing the current state model places disproportionate burdens on cities like Columbus.
Council members framed the resolution as an effort to press state lawmakers to implement the Ohio Fair School Funding plan using up-to-date cost data. Council President Harden and other members noted the state budget overall is larger than the prior biennium and called it inconsistent to increase general spending while reducing funds available to district classrooms.
The resolution directs the city to stand with the district and calls on residents and elected officials to press state lawmakers for changes. Council voted to adopt the resolution without amendments.
