Week in Review – 10/11/2019

Week in Review > Week in Review – 10/11/2019

Posted by BASA on October 11th, 2019

FY20-21 BUDGET

The state brought in $37.3 million more in tax revenue during September than it had estimated, or about 2 percent over, according to preliminary figures released by the Office of Budget and Management (OBM). The state is now nearly $71.4 million over estimates after the first quarter. The increase was despite the non-auto sales and use tax being under estimates by 0.9 percent, or $6.9 million below estimates. The auto sales and use tax was $2.4 million above estimates, and both combined were $4.5 million below estimates.

EDUCATION

Citing her passion to lift up her students and nurture a love of learning, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Paolo DeMaria surprised students and staff at Norwood Middle School by announcing Leila Kubesch’s selection as Ohio’s 2020 “Teacher of the Year.”

GENERAL ASSEMBLY/STATEHOUSE

Speaker of the House Larry Householder (R-Glenford) announced Monday afternoon that Lawrence County Auditor Jason Stephens had been selected to succeed former Rep. Ryan Smith (R-Bidwell) in the 93rd House District seat. He was sworn in on Thursday, Oct. 10. That district includes Gallia and Jackson counties, most of Lawrence County and part of Vinton County.

Cindy Abrams, a member of Harrison City Council and a former Cincinnati police officer, was sworn into office, replacing Rep. Louis Blessing III (R-Cincinnati) in the 29th House District. Blessing has moved to the Ohio Senate.

The Senate welcomed former Rep. Louis Blessing III (R-Cincinnati) to its ranks on Wednesday, filling the vacancy created with the retirement of former Sen. Lou Terhar (R-Cincinnati).

TAXATION

The House turned a measure to give teachers a tax break on school supply purchases into a tax omnibus and budget cleanup measure, backtracking on a previous move to bar lobbyists and lawyers from collecting a small business deduction. The measure, SB26 (Kunze), cleared the House Finance Committee Thursday morning before passing the full House by a vote of 90-0 Thursday afternoon.