March 8, 2014

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State of the State: Governor restores school outreach program at 2% of prior funding level

In his State of the State address, Governor Kasich touted his plan to invest $10 million to engage the community in public education. This amounts to just under 2% of the funding a similar program received before he took office.

Nearly $31 Million in Taxpayer Funds Uncollected from Failed Charter Schools

A new report finds that $30.5 million in taxpayer dollars remained uncollected from charter schools that have closed. Our education policy fellow suggests a fix that could better protect taxpayer funds.

Rate of Return: What Will Ohio’s Utilities Get for Campaign Cash?

IO released a study today showing that Ohio’s four electric utility companies have made political campaign contributions totaling nearly $2.7 million since May, 2008, most of which went to Republican legislators and officeholders who are strategically positioned to pass a bill giving the companies a nearly $4 billion windfall at the expense of Ohio consumers.

The Impact of $400 Million on Ohio Schools

Ohio State Senator Chris Widener proposes using the projected $400 million in savings from Medicaid expansion to pay for another income tax cut, dismissing the idea of making up cuts to Ohio schools has having a “minimal impact.” An analysis by Innovation Ohio shows that, to the contrary, the impact of an extra $400 million on Ohio schools would be dramatic and profound.

Budget cuts lead to 1.6 billion in new school money on Ohio ballots

As a result of Governor Kasich’s two budgets, fully 3 in 4 school districts must operate with less state funding than they received four years ago. Innovation Ohio reviewed issues on the November ballot and found another 72 issues around the state requesting new operating money — $260 million — which brings the combined total of new money for schools requested of taxpayers to $1.6 billion under Kasich.