Ohio senators plan changes to budget

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Ohio senators are closely scrutinizing the accountability of charter schools, changes to public employee pensions and plans to privatize certain state assets as they prepare to put their mark on the $55.6 billion state budget.

Senate Finance Chairman Chris Widener said lawmakers have not yet decided what changes will be made to the two-year state spending plan.

Amendments were due to his committee by Thursday evening. Republican leaders planned to review the ideas over the coming Memorial Day weekend. They hope to craft a revised budget proposal next week.

One GOP change being proposed would allow cities, counties and school districts to get an infusion of cash from the privatizing of Ohio’s state liquor sales.

Gov. John Kasich wants to use the state’s liquor- sales business to provide a permanent funding stream to JobsOhio, a semiprivate economic-development entity that will provide grants to fuel business growth.

Sen. Tim Grendell, R-Chesterland, said his amendment would assure taxpayers get a fair price on the liquor monopoly, and he also wants to change wording in the bill to make sure the transfer would be allowed under the state constitution.