Schaffer Praises Senate State Operating Budget

COLUMBUS - State Senator Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster) praised the recently released Senate version of the state's new two-year $85.7 billion budget bill, highlighting its focus on public benefits reform and tax cuts.

“I am proud of the work done by the Ohio Senate on the state operating budget," Schaffer said. "President Matt Huffman and Finance Chairman Matt Dolan have worked hard to construct a conservative and fiscally responsible budget bill that brings critical funding and reforms to many of Ohio's programs."

Reforming Public Benefits

Chief among the reforms are significant, common-sense changes to our state’s public benefits programs, based on the findings of the Ohio Public Assistance Benefits Accountability Task Force. These reforms include:

• Requires the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to compile and deliver a quarterly report of various Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) transactions to the General Assembly
• Prohibits the ODJFS from seeking an exemption from SNAP work requirements that apply to able-bodied adults without dependents
• Requires individuals 16-59 to participate in Ohio's employment and training program as a condition of eligibility for SNAP benefits
• Requires an individual receiving SNAP benefits who is party to a child support order to provide their contact information to ODJFS and disqualifies them if they fail to do so
• Prohibits ODJFS from replacing an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card of a household that requests three or more within a twelve-month period unless certain circumstances have occurred
• Prohibits the amount of available funds on a SNAP electronic benefits transfer card from exceeding $2,000. Specifies that if a card is unused or contains a balance of $2,000 for a period of six months, ODJFS is required to deactivate the card
• Specifies that a household is not a categorically eligible household for purposes of receiving SNAP benefits if any members of the household receive or are authorized to receive a noncash, in-kind, or other similar benefit
• Requires ODJFS to immediately deactivate a SNAP EBT card upon notification that the card has been reported as lost, stolen, or damaged
• Requires the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) to implement a corrective action plan for each provider that is qualified to make Medicaid presumptive eligibility determinations, if their error rate of the determinations exceeds 2% in a month

"The Task Force reviewed the state’s existing public benefits programs, and Representative Scott Wiggam, Former Representative Kyle Koehler, and I, as co-chairs, drafted recommendations to remove fraud, waste, and abuse," said Schaffer, who co-chaired the Task Force. "These reforms will ensure these programs support the families and individuals who genuinely need help."

Flattening the Tax Code Generates $1.5 Billion Tax Cut for Ohioans
 

 Over the past four General Assemblies, the Senate has reduced the overall number of income tax brackets from 9 to 4.

Now, that number will be two.

Phased in over the biennium, the marginal rates will be 2.75% over $26,050 and 3.5% over $92,150. Ohioans making less than $26,051 will pay zero income taxes.

“This reform rewards the workforce,” said Senator Dolan. “Higher income taxes penalize the work ethic and success stories of hard-working Ohioans that drive our economy.”

Also included in Senate’s economic package is a two-week extended sales tax holiday period. 
The Senate also restored a large amount of funding to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation fund and Division of Forestry in its version of the budget.

"As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, I am proud to have worked beside my Senate colleagues to hear hours of testimony from dozens of Ohioans regarding agriculture, environmental, and natural resources issues in the state operating budget," Schaffer said. "I look forward to working alongside my fellow state senators as we continue working on the state operating budget.”

The budget bill will work its way through the Senate Finance Committee and then onto a floor vote the following week. The Ohio Constitution requires that the budget be balanced and passed by the end of June.