The Ohio House of Representatives approved a state operating budget Wednesday that drew praise from Republican lawmakers in the Valley for its tax relief provisions and criticism from Democrats who argued it neglects key services.
House Bill 96 passed the Ohio House of Representatives by a vote of 59-38. It marks the first time in over a decade that an Ohio budget has passed without a single Democratic vote.
The two-year spending plan, House Bill 96, now moves to the governor for consideration.
State Rep. Nick Santucci, R-Niles, a Majority Whip, said the budget delivers "critical investments in education, workforce development, and community revitalization" to the Mahoning Valley, totaling more than $3 million. He highlighted provisions aimed at lowering higher education costs, supporting the workforce and increasing funding for brownfield cleanup and site readiness.
"This historic budget brings over $3 million to the Mahoning Valley, delivering critical investments in education, workforce development, and community revitalization," Santucci said. "It lowers the cost of higher education, supports our workforce, and boosts funding for brownfield cleanup and site readiness—helping turn blighted properties into housing and economic opportunity.”
Republicans say the budget addresses rising property taxes by implementing a process for school districts with more than 40% of their general budget in unspent cash to distribute that money as property tax relief to Ohioans starting in January 2026. Proponents of the measure say it could save Ohioans more than $2.5 billion in property taxes, according to figures based on 2024 carryover data.
Additionally, the budget reduces the state income tax, with the top tax bracket decreasing from 3.5% to 3.125% in tax year 2025 and to 2.75% in tax year 2026 and beyond. Backers say this move aims to make Ohio more competitive and simplify the tax code.
The spending plan also increases funding for Ohio public schools by nearly $700 million over the next two fiscal years, according to Republican supporters
Community revitalization efforts are supported through increased funding for Brownfield Remediation, blight and demolition. The budget also introduces two new initiatives to encourage single-family home construction.
In terms of public safety, the budget allocates $65 million for local law enforcement training, also providing $8 million in grants for small county volunteer fire departments.
However, State Rep. Lauren McNally, D-Youngstown, voted against House Bill 96, calling it a "Republican-crafted" budget that contains "cruel and chaotic cuts" and fails to invest in children, public education, healthcare and basic services.
"I am very disappointed with this budget. We have had nearly six months of testimony, meetings, amendments, and research, only for it to be completely ignored. Under this budget, Ohioans are going to suffer and will have to make sacrifices to make ends meet. When I talk to constituents, they are worried about properly funded schools, real property tax relief, and basic things like clean water. None of which this budget delivers,” McNally said.
McNally characterized the income tax changes as a "scam" that primarily benefits the wealthy, arguing that four out of five Ohioans would see $5 or less in savings. She contended that the state would lose $1.67 billion over the next two years due to these tax cuts.
She also criticized the budget for "gutting public schools" by prioritizing billions in vouchers for private schools over public education funding. McNally asserted that the budget forces schools to rely more on property tax levies by "raiding savings accounts that school districts have diligently invested in."
Additionally, McNally said the budget leads to "fewer childcare slots" for working families and includes "attacks on collective bargaining and organized labor" by prohibiting workers from negotiating about their working location assignments.
The budget includes funding for projects in Trumbull County and the broader Lake to River region, such as a study for a potential oil and natural gas pipeline across Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull Counties.
It also allocates resources for construction and repairs at regional airports and military facilities, including the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, and investments in recreational assets like Mosquito Lake State Park and the Mahoning Valley Scrappers Stadium.