Innovation Ohio continues to be the sole source of consolidated school funding numbers reflecting the loss of Federal Stimulus, Foundation, TPP and Utility Tax reimbursement funding from the State of Ohio to school districts in the FY 12 and FY 13 budget. The Kasich administration has released individual spreadsheets that do not tell the whole story about how much less money individual districts will have to work with once the budget is finalized.
We have again updated our spreadsheet to reflect changes to the Governor’s proposal contained in the Senate substitute version of House Bill 153; the amendments add back $115 million to schools, including a boost to foundation funding as well as a “bonus” to high-performing schools.
Download the spreadsheet
Does ‘King David’ Own the Senate, Too?
For Immediate Release: May 31, 2011
Contact: Dale Butland, 614-783-5833
DOES ‘KING DAVID’ OWN THE SENATE, TOO?
Columbus—Innovation Ohio, a progressive think tank headquartered in Columbus today called on the Ohio Senate to “kill the outrageous charter school amendments passed by House Republicans that are expressly designed to benefit and enrich a single for-profit operator—David Brennan—at the expense of Ohio taxpayers.” Brennan’s White Hat Management company receives $78 million per year in taxpayer money to run 31 charter schools in Ohio, 20 of which are in “academic emergency” or on “academic watch.” Since 2000, Brennan has collected an estimated $500 million in state money. IO’s request precedes hearings in the Senate Finance Committee this week on whether to adopt the House’s version of the Kasich administration’s proposed state budget, which includes the pro-Brennan amendments. 7 of the 8 Republican members of the Finance Committee majority have received political contributions from Brennan Initially, House leaders repeatedly claimed they “couldn’t remember” who sponsored the charter school amendments or how they got into the House bill. House Speaker William Batchhelder called it a “damn lie” that Brennan’s financial largesse played a role. But on the May 29 “Capital Square” television show aired on the Ohio News Network, Batchelder admitted the amendments were added at the direct request of Brennan, the Republican party’s second largest financial contributor. Among the most egregious are amendments that would:- Allow Mr. Brennan to keep secret how he spends the tax dollars he receives for operating his 31 Ohio charter schools;
- Ban the state from suspending or putting on probation charter schools that perform poorly, are mismanaged or which have been found guilty of violating the law;
- End the requirement that charter school operators like Brennan have independent “sponsors” to whom they are accountable
Ohio E-Schools: Funding Failure; Coddling Contributors
Research Overview
This report analyzes E-school performance ratings and student graduation rates, their costs compared to traditional schools, and the tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer money E-school operators receive for running them. We also highlight the extensive political contributions the state’s two most prominent E-school operators have made to Ohio legislators and state-wide office-holders. Findings include:- Of Ohio’s 7 state-wide E-schools (which account for 90% of all E-school enrollment), six are not even rated “effective” by the Ohio Department of Education.
- 5 of the 7 have graduation rates worse than Cleveland Municipal Schools, which has the lowest graduation rate of all traditional school districts.
- Far from “saving’ money, E-Schools actually cost the state TWICE as much per pupil as traditional public schools.
Kasich Budget Could Destroy Over 51,000 Jobs
For Immediate Release April 7, 2011
Contact: Dale Butland 614- 783-5833
KASICH BUDGET COULD DESTROY OVER 51,000 JOBS Think Tank says losses could derail Ohio’s economic recovery
Columbus—Innovation Ohio, a progressive think tank headquartered in Columbus, released an analysis today which finds that passing the Kasich Administration’s proposed two-year budget could mean a direct loss of 51,052 existing Ohio jobs. The study, including the methodology used to calculate the losses, is posted at www.innovationohio.org and can be accessed directly by following this link. Job losses of that magnitude—which are more than double the 22,000 jobs that have been created since Gov. Kasich took office—could easily stall the state’s still-fragile economic recovery. IO’s study is believed to be the first to project the total number of direct job losses that would result from the Administration’s proposed cuts to K-12 education, higher education, state personnel, and local governments. Indirect job losses—which would occur as the decreased spending of newly unemployed workers rippled throughout the state economy—would have an added impact, as will the job losses from cuts to nursing homes and hospitals. Innovation Ohio communications director Dale Butland had this to say: “When Ohioans hear Gov. Kasich boast about his ‘jobs budget’, they mistakenly think he means a budget that creates jobs—not destroys them. But if the legislature enacts all the cuts contained in the Governor’s proposed budget, the 51,000 jobs we stand to lose is more than double the 22,000 jobs Ohio has gained since Gov. Kasich took office. The effect could be catastrophic to Ohio’s still-fragile economic recovery. “School districts and local governments will, of course, do everything possible to avoid laying people off. But they’ve already made the easy cuts and pared their budgets dramatically. So when the Governor proposes to cut school funding by $3 billion and local government funding by 50%, firing workers or raising local taxes are the only realistic choices they have left. By stubbornly insisting that an $8 billion deficit must be closed through cuts and one-time money alone, Gov. Kasich is intentionally pursuing a policy that will cost tens of thousands of Ohioans their jobs. But attacking workers—whether through a job-killing budget or the unfair Senate Bill 5—will not fix Ohio. It will only destroy the middle class. And that’s not what Gov. Kasich was elected to do.”-30-
Direct Job Loss from Cuts in the Kasich ‘Jobs Budget’
Research Overview
Governor John Kasich recently introduced his proposed two-year ‘Jobs Budget,’ HB153. While the Administration claims to be creating “a platform for growth, for job creation and for a resurgence of this state,” it appears that the Governor’s budget does just the opposite. The extensive cuts contained in this budget will result not only in the elimination or reduction of key services, but also in extensive job loss throughout the state. Innovation Ohio conservatively estimates that in the absence of large local tax increases to offset the Administration’s proposed cuts to K-12 education, higher education, state personnel, and local governments, 51,052 direct jobs are likely to be lost. Read the Report. Read the Press Release.Consolidated school funding spreadsheet [updated with House and Senate amendments]
Starting with the Governor’s as-introduced budget, Innovation Ohio has consolidated and posted all district-by-district school funding figures released to date, including funds districts can expect to lose from stimulus money that will not be replaced. We provide this spreadsheet as a service to Ohio school officials and parents who deserve both transparency and a ‘one-stop shop’ where they can easily learn the true and total impact of the Administration’s proposed budget on their school districts.
While the Administration released the TPP and public utility tax figures, showing districts what they stand to lose, the numbers were broken down into four different spreadsheets. And they do not reveal the district-by-district impact resulting from the loss of federal stimulus funds. To eliminate great frustration, Innovation Ohio’s spreadsheet pulls all those figures together in one simple document. [Updated 5/18/11 – House Amendments to Governor’s proposal added; 6/2/11 – Senate substitute bill; 7/14/11 – Final, enacted legislation]
Download the spreadsheet:
- Total School Funding Cuts – Kasich As-Introduced Version
- Total School Funding Cuts – House Amended Version
- Total School Funding Cuts – Senate Substitute Bill and Final Enacted Legislation (Conference committee did not change the Senate funding scheme)
News Release: SB 5 is “Still a Frog”
For Immediate Release
March 29, 2011
Contact: Dale Butland
614- 783-5833
INNOVATION OHIO: SB 5 IS “STILL A FROG” THINK TANK SAYS AMENDED BILL WOULD DESTROY SANCTITY OF CONTRACTS
Columbus, Ohio — Innovation Ohio, a progressive think tank headquartered in Columbus, reacted today to SB 5, as amended by the House Commerce and Labor Committee. Comments from Innovation Ohio Communications Director Dale Butland are below. In addition, a new analysis by Innovation Ohio of the bill’s language has found that by granting state officials unprecedented authority to void valid contracts simply by declaring a local “fiscal watch”, SB 5 undermines a basic tenet of American law: the sanctity of contracts. Read the analysis (“SB5: Granting New, Broad Powers to Break a Collective Bargaining Agreement”) here. Said Dale Butland: “Apologists for SB 5 say that the House has removed or watered down some of the earlier version’s most objectionable provisions. “But no matter how many warts you take off a frog, it’s still a frog — and it’s still ugly. “The amended version of SB 5 remains a deeply flawed piece of legislation that polls show the people of Ohio don’t want. It doesn’t create a single job. It does nothing to close the state’s $8 billion budget deficit. And it strips public workers of a fundamental right, while also destroying one of the underpinnings of our legal system — the sanctity of contracts. “Yet Gov. Kasich and his legislative allies ignore public opinion and arrogantly insist on shoving this bill down Ohio’s throat anyway. Why? Because SB 5 is not and never has been about jobs or deficits — it’s always been about the “Three Ps” of power, politics and pay-back. “SB 5 is a blatant attempt by one political party to de-fund the opposition and punish its political opponents. “But partisan politics isn’t what Gov. Kasich or the legislature was elected to do last November. The people of Ohio want more jobs, not more politics as usual.”– 30 –
Analysis: SB5 Grants New, Broad Powers to Break a Collective Bargaining Agreement
Research Overview
Senate Bill 5 grants substantial and unchecked power to the Governor, Auditor of State and Board of Regents to suspend public employee salaries, benefit increases and modify or terminate collective bargaining agreements. In fact, the ease in which any of these entities may declare fiscal emergency or watch, allowing the elimination of specific contractual provisions within the agreement, undermines the collective bargaining agreement. All provisions advocated for by the employee organization, and reluctantly agreed to by the public employer, may be targeted, thereby ignoring the sanctity of the contract and allowing the pubic employer to retroactively repeal provisions of the agreement they could not suppress through the bargaining process. Not only does SB 5 grant the Governor, Auditor of State and the Board of Regents the broad and ill-defined power to declare fiscal watches and/or emergencies and thereby open the door to the modification and/or termination of existing collective bargaining agreements, it also denies public employees any recourse to challenge those actions. Read the report.News Release: Innovation Ohio Obtains Kasich Administration’s Internal Spread Sheets on School Funding Cuts
For Immediate Release
March 25, 2011
Contact: Dale Butland
614- 783-5833
INNOVATION OHIO OBTAINS KASICH ADMINISTRATION’S INTERNAL SPREAD SHEETS ON SCHOOL FUNDING CUTS; SLAMS ADMINISTRATION FOR “SERIAL DECEPTIONS”
Columbus, Ohio — Innovation Ohio, a progressive think tank headquartered in Columbus, has obtained the Kasich Administration’s district-by-district breakdowns of school funding cuts, including the reimbursement losses districts will incur from the discontinued business taxes contained in the Governor’s budget proposal. The Administration has previously told reporters asking for this information that the so-called “runs” either did not exist or were not available. Innovation Ohio has learned that the runs did exist but apparently were deliberately withheld from the news media, presumably because they flatly contradict the Administration’s March 23 claim that over 400 of Ohio’s 613 school districts would receive funding increases in FY 2012 and 2013. In fact, the Administration’s internal documents show that 610 districts would receive cuts in FY 2012 and 599 would receive cuts in FY 2013, compared to FY 2011. As a service to school administrators and taxpayers, Innovation Ohio has also calculated the true amounts each Ohio school district can expect to receive during the biennium, as well as the likely increases in millage that would be required for districts to make up the shortfalls. These documents —along with the Administration spread sheets —are posted at www.innovationohio.org. Innovation Ohio Communications Director Dale Butland said this about today’s developments: “It’s always been clear that the Kasich Administration has had a problem with transparency. Now they even seem to have trouble with telling the truth. First, they told reporters that the district-by-district breakdowns either did not exist or were not available. Then they tried to fool the public by releasing incomplete spread sheets which suggested most school districts would get funding increases. “Not only were both of those representations false, but now we learn that the Administration is apparently keeping two sets of books: one for public consumption that deliberately hides the truth, and one for internal use that reflects reality. This can only be described as serial deception. No wonder the Governor’s credibility and job approval numbers are falling faster than the speed of business. “But what matters most is that Ohioans are now finding out how much harm the Administration’s budget would do to school districts and taxpayers. And as we’ve said from the beginning, the unbalanced approach Gov. Kasich is taking to closing Ohio’s $8 billion deficit is a shell game that will only lead to large job losses and huge tax hikes at the local level.”Kasich administration internal documents:
- School funding by district, showing funding impacts relative to FY2011 including federal stimulus
- School funding by district, with impact of tax replacement revenue phase-outs included in FY2012 and 2013 levels
Innovation Ohio calculations:
- Combined impact on districts of elimination of stimulus and tax replacement revenue phase-outs
- District-by-district millage increases required to make up the shortfall
– 30 –