COLUMBUS -The final version of the upcoming state budget freezes funding for nearly one-third of Ohio school districts, including Cleveland city schools, the state's largest district.
The two-year, $51 billion spending plan provides no additional funding for 198 of the state's 612 districts, according to a review of the budget's estimated state aid for schools.
House and Senate lawmakers approved the budget Tuesday and sent it to Gov. Bob Taft, who must sign it into law by July 1.
Overall, the budget spends $6.2 billion on schools next year, a 2.3 percent over current funding, and $6.4 billion in 2007, a 2.1 percent increase.
The funding plan for schools is similar to that passed by the Senate, which would have frozen funding for 196 districts. Senate Republicans scrapped an earlier proposal that would have frozen funding to 215 districts.
The plan approved Tuesday is a far cry from Taft's original proposal in February, which included slight decreases for 254 districts around the state.
Funding for education is not yet where lawmakers want, but Tuesday's proposal is a start, said Senate Education Chairwoman Joy Padgett.
We are on a long
long journey said Padgett, R-Coshocton. We have a ways to go but we have moved forward in this budget.
Democrats said the budget does not do nearly enough for schools.
Republicans found last minute money in this budget and still didn't properly fund education
said Sen. C.J. Prentiss of Cleveland, the Senate's top-ranking Democrat. They're only increasing taxes since districts will have to get their money from levies.
Cleveland city schools, with about 73,000 students, will receive $428 million next year and in 2007, the same as this year, according to budget documents.
The district is probably hurt by declining enrollment and the budget's elimination of funding to make up for differences in the cost of doing business, said Barbara Shaner, legislative affairs director of the Ohio Association of School Business Officials.
Columbus city schools received increases of 3.5 percent and 6.5 percent, while Cincinnati schools gets 0.6 percent next year and 4.8 percent in 2007.
The two-year budget includes a 21 percent income-tax cut and a rewrite of Ohio's tax laws.
The House passed the budget by a 53-46 vote, capping nearly four hours of debate. The Senate concurred 19-13 on the compromise reached Sunday night by a House-Senate committee.
Rep. Dixie Allen of Dayton was the only Democrat to join majority Republicans in passage in the House. Eight Republicans voted against the bill.
Republican Sens. Jim Jordan of Urbana and Lynn Wachtmann of Napoleon joined minority Democrats in voting no in the Senate.
Republicans called the budget historic, holding the line on spending while making taxes on businesses fairer.
Democrats said the tax cuts favor the wealthy and the budget doesn't do enough for higher education.
The budget changes Ohio's Depression-era business tax code, ending the corporate-franchise and business property taxes and replacing them with a tax on sales.
The Legislature made few major changes in the plan Taft introduced in February. But lawmakers restored funding for local governments and libraries that Taft had cut.
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