State budget season begins
Posted July 25, 2024 in Press Releases
Policy Matters releases guide for advocates
Yesterday, researchers presented Policy Matters Ohio’s Guide to the State Budget to partners and other budget advocates. The guide is now available to the public.
“Ohio’s state budget is paid for by the people’s pooled resources,” said researcher Kathryn Poe, the guide’s author. “It belongs to all of us, and all of us should have a voice in how that money is spent. But the state budget process can seem impenetrable, and the corresponding documents are technical and complex. We created this guide to help everyday Ohioans access, understand, and advocate for their own budget priorities.”
The guide outlines the budget process and describes how to navigate key documents. It also gives advice for tracking funding changes historically and in the upcoming budget cycle, which officially begins with the introduction of Gov. DeWine’s final Executive Budget proposal in early 2025.
“The Executive Budget is one of the governor’s last chances to define his legacy,” said Poe. “This is Governor DeWine’s opportunity to tell the history books who he is. He can prioritize projects that make life better for all Ohioans, or tax measures that only benefit the already wealthy,” said Poe. “The push to pass a true People’s Budget starts now.”
The guide will be followed in the coming weeks by a comprehensive budget proposal from Policy Matters, and in the coming months by a platform from the People’s Budget coalition. “We have some exciting budget work coming up,” said Poe. “Stay tuned.”