Budget OK'd by Ohio Senate a mixed bag for schools

YOUNGSTOWN — The latest version of the state budget sees some Mahoning Valley school districts receiving more state money than this year while others get less or remain flat.

Gov. John Kasich introduced his budget proposal in February and it went through several revisions in the House and Senate.

The latest one passed out of a conference committee and was approved today by the Ohio Senate. The Ohio House is expected to approve it Friday.

Youngstown City Schools would receive more in state aid and reimbursements in the latest budget version than this fiscal year. But it’s less than what had been proposed in Kasich’s version.

The district received $88.1 million in fiscal year 2015.

The latest budget document lists $90.9 million for the district in FY 2016 and $93.2 million in FY 2017, down from the original Kasich proposal of $91.7 million in FY2016 and $94 million in FY2017.

“We were still hoping for better news,” said Treasurer James Reinhard.

The district’s five-year forecast, however, made allowance for fluctuation in the state allotment.

“The forecast assumed we would lose 200 students each year,” the treasurer said. “The past two years we’ve lost less than that. I don’t know if you’d call that a trend or not, but we have lost fewer.”

If the district’s enrollment increases, its state money would increase — and it would decrease if enrollment decreases.

For the complete story, read Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com