Buckeye Reporter

Rea S. Hederman Jr., executive director of the Economic Research Center and vice president of policy at The Buckeye Institute, shared initial thoughts on Governor Mike DeWine's proposed budget for fiscal years 2026-2027.

Hederman acknowledged certain positive aspects of the proposal, stating, "While there are many details to be ironed out, The Buckeye Institute commends Governor DeWine for acknowledging that the state is overfunding public school districts with declining enrollment and not providing enough funding for schools that students are attending." He also expressed approval of efforts to align Ohio’s higher education funding with graduate outcomes and ensure K-12 students receive information about in-demand jobs.

However, Hederman voiced concerns regarding the absence of future tax reform discussions and the overall spending growth outlined in the budget. "Notwithstanding the positives, The Buckeye Institute is disappointed not to hear anything about future tax reform, and there are concerns about the level of overall spending growth, such as increasing the local government fund at a time when rising property taxes are providing localities with plenty of tax dollars," he noted.