$60 billion Ohio budget set to pass next week

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Ohio lawmakers must pass the state’s $60 billion state budget by the end of the month and details are still being hashed out and negotiated behind the scenes between the House and Senate.

Among those items is $600 million to the Cleveland Browns to help the team build a new stadium. The House and Senate put different proposals in the budget to get that money to the Browns. Right now, the budget uses the state’s unclaimed funds program to fund it.

“Both chambers have recognized that this is a historic project and a real win for the state of Ohio,” Ohio House Finance Chair Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) said. “I think if all we have to do in the next week is hash out technical differences of how we do it, I think it’s a pretty good start.”

There are also talks about tax cuts in the budget. For example, Ohio Senate Republicans are looking to create a flat state income tax rate, saving Ohioans in what is currently the top tax bracket a combined $1.4 billion. But House members on both sides of the aisle are not entirely keen on the idea.

“This is not the time to wipe out $1.4 billion of our revenue,” Ohio House Finance Ranking Member Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) said. “I am very concerned about the future of Ohio and our budget that is not preparing us to be the most fiscally responsible, the most prepared to take care of the people of Ohio.”

“Most [Republicans] have voted for income tax cuts before, we would like to see some income tax relief,” Stewart said. “I don’t know if we have the same view today that we need to get there entirely in this budget.”

A big piece of the budget will also be property tax relief. The House and Senate agree something needs to get done but have taken different approaches to the issue.

“We want to have immediate, meaningful property tax relief and I think that a lot of those ideas that we’ve been kicking around the last six months are certainly candidates,” Stewart said.

Most recently house members introduced a bill that would do things like eliminate inside millage usage, which helps fund police, fire and schools, but would save Ohioans billions of dollars. Backers of the bill are eyeing the state budget to get that through.

“We’ve heard concerns from local governments, primarily aimed at inside millage, and what the elimination of inside millage would do to local governments who are reliant on inside millage,” Ohio Senate President Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) said. “I would say the inside millage is not likely to make it inside the final version, at least, we would fight against that.”

But some budget considerations from earlier on in the budget debate are likely being left by the wayside, like legalizing online casino games and lottery.

“I think it is highly unlikely there will be any gambling expansion,” Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said.

The budget must pass by the end of June. Lawmakers are on track to pass it next week, likely on Wednesday.