Buckeye Reporter

The Buckeye Institute has released a new policy brief titled "Building a Responsible, Pro-Growth Budget," which proposes policies for Ohio lawmakers to consider in the upcoming budget. The institute aims to improve Ohio's fiscal landscape and promote long-term prosperity.

Greg R. Lawson, co-author of the paper and a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, emphasized the need for effective resource management in Ohio's constrained fiscal environment. "Ohio’s more constrained fiscal environment requires a budget that manages current resources effectively and lays the foundation for sustainable, long-term prosperity," Lawson stated. He added that by restraining public spending and reforming government systems, Ohio could align its fiscal policies with modern economic realities.

The Buckeye Institute suggests five key policies for inclusion in the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget:

1. Embrace Fiscal Discipline: The institute recommends linking spending increases to inflation and population growth while applying state appropriation limits to all funds. This measure could have saved approximately $9 billion in the previous budget cycle.

2. Pursue Pro-Growth Tax Policies: A comprehensive overhaul of Ohio’s tax structure is advised to enhance competitiveness and index personal income tax rates against inflation.

3. Reform Outdated Local Government Systems: To tackle rising property taxes, incentives should be provided for streamlining local governments, requiring county commissioner approval for levies on ballots, dissolving underperforming villages as per House Bill 331, and limiting property tax breaks for developers.

4. Fulfill the School Choice Promise: The brief calls for making school choice universally available as promised by Ohio, incorporating recommendations from "Fulfilling the Promise of Putting Students First."

5. Align Higher Education with the 21st Century: Lawmakers are encouraged to adopt policies from "Transforming Higher Education in Ohio" to ensure better returns on taxpayer investments and align education with modern economic demands.

The proposed measures aim to create a balanced approach toward sustainable growth and improved education systems in Ohio.