Ohio Senate to release its version of the budget

5/28/2013

COLUMBUS — The state Senate is preparing to release its changes to Ohio’s sweeping two-year budget.

Senators on a budget-writing committee planned to meet later today to introduce an overhaul of the spending plan.

The House passed its version of the $61.5 billion, two-year budget last month. And the two chambers will likely have to negotiate their differences over the measure. The bill must be completed by June 30.

Senate Democrats say they have submitted roughly 200 amendments to the proposal. One change would take millions of dollars from a proposed income tax cut for higher wage earners and direct it to schools instead.

Republicans control the Senate and have ideas of their own for the bill.

Additional hearings are planned this week on the budget changes.