Senate Republicans take scissors to proposed budget

Education spending increased; all other agencies at current or reduced levels.

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By William Hershey and Laura A. Bischoff, Staff Writers Updated 12:14 AM Saturday, May 30, 2009

Let the games begin.

Senate Republicans have slashed $659 million from the $54 billion budget passed earlier by the House, leaving the two-year spending plan balanced — for now.

That could change and more cuts might be needed if even gloomier revenue projections surface when a House-Senate conference committee next month tries to come up with a final version of the budget, Sen. Keith Faber, R-Celina, said on Friday, May 29.

Faber and other Senate Republicans unveiled their version of the budget and the full Senate is expected to vote on it next week. A conference committee then will try to come up with a compromise plan for Gov. Ted Strickland to sign before the July 1 start of the new fiscal year.

The Senate cuts — including about $200 million in savings as a result of a Strickland executive order reducing spending — were necessary because of a $912 million hole in this year’s budget. That hole will have to be filled before the books are closed on the budget that ends June 30.

The continuing economic woes are forcing some tough choices. Even programs that Senate Republicans like, including a $96 million business internship program aimed at keeping talented young workers in the state, had to go, said Faber.

The plan also eliminates 34 proposed fee increases and 139 project earmarks.

“If it was earmarked, it was gone,” Faber said.

Except for increases to K-12 education and higher education, the Senate Republicans kept spending for all other agencies at current levels or reduced them, they said.

Besides increasing money for charter schools, the Senate GOP budget guarantees all school districts will receive a 0.25 percent increase in the first year of the new budget and a 0.5 percent increase the second year. Fast-growing districts would receive a 2 percent increase each year.

Senate Republican budget amendments would:

• Remove the proposed ban on corporal punishment in schools.

• Scrap plans to require more vaccinations.

• Remove mandates that would force health insurance plans to cover children with autism and dependent children up to age 29.

• Eliminate a plan pushed by Strickland to allow state agencies to establish nonprofits that would take donations to help operate state government.

• Allow county governments to furlough employees in fiscal years 2010 and 2011.

• Require the secretary of state and Bureau of Motor Vehicles to agree on how to match vehicle records with voter records for verification purposes.

• Require the Ohio Department of Health to report adult deaths to county boards of elections.

• Prohibit the use of prisoner labor at the Governor’s Mansion.

• Require school districts to establish policies regarding peanut and other food allergies.

• Require the Ohio Department of Health to apply for federal abstinence-only sex education funds.

Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com.