Kim Murnieks

The state budget process began during the pandemic, when schools and businesses were closed, unemployment numbers were at double digits, and terrifying predictions of death tolls were circulating. A year later, the state and Ohioans are flush with federal COVID relief money, so the budget picture has changed a lot.

State lawmakers are getting two different forecasts on how much tax revenue will come in over the next two year budget cycle from their experts and from the state budget director, who presented Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed spending plan to them today.

The state budget is a sea of red, as income and sales tax collections are less than half of what was predicted for this month . There is one specific...

Ohio is getting a great deal when it borrows money these days. The Office of Budget and Management reports the state received the lowest rate on financing…