CINCINNATI (WKRC) – The General Assembly is in the middle of finalizing the new state budget. A large portion of what is decided will have a dramatic impact on schools in Ohio.
Ohio’s school funding system is at a critical juncture as the state navigates the complexities of a bipartisan fair school funding formula, now four years into a six-year plan. The formula, designed to address historical funding issues, appears to be encountering obstacles.
Since the 1820s, Ohio has relied on property taxes to fund public schools. Following the Great Depression, a state sales tax was introduced to supplement funding. Despite a court case that increased state funding for schools, Ohio still experiences a high number of levies compared to neighboring states, leading to concerns of “levy fatigue” among districts. These districts are also worried about the diversion of funds to private school vouchers…