Governor Kasich’s Administration recently provided guidance to state agencies regarding upcoming biennium budget requests that included a goal of encouraging Ohio’s economic competitiveness and job growth while restraining state spending.
With limited state resources, expectations of a possible recession over the upcoming budget period, and the recent federal regulatory decision that Ohio can no longer collect the sales tax on Medicaid managed care plans; there will be fierce competition to obtain state funding. Furthermore, the Office of Budget and Management (OBM) instructed state agencies to base their general revenue budget funding requests on just 90% of their Fiscal Year 2017 budget, meaning we can expect to see even less state spending. Agencies are on a tight timeline to submit budget requests, which are due in September, and therefore clients need to work with state agencies immediately to communicate funding priorities, and ensure that the possible strain on available funding sources does not negatively affect them.
Below is a summary outline of the schedule for the state’s upcoming biennium budget process. In addition to working with state agencies to acquire funding in the executive version of the budget, there are also opportunities for clients to obtain funding and policy changes in the budget throughout the legislative process as it is debated in the General Assembly, which will begin February 2017 and last until June 2017.
Clients are encouraged to contact the listed Roetzel attorneys with any questions, concerns, and potential government affairs or lobbying requests.
PHASE 1: Agency Budget Request Preparation
July 20, 2016 - November 1, 2016
- July 20, 2016: OBM Releases FYs 2018-2019 Operating Budget Guidance
- September 16, 2016: DUE DATE: Budget and Language Requests – Professional Boards, Regulatory Boards, and Smaller Agency
- October 16, 2016: DUE DATE: Budget and Language Requests – Cabinet and Executive Agency
- November 1, 2016: DUE DATE: Budget and Language Requests – Legislative, Judicial, and Constitutional Officeholders
PHASE 2: OBM Review, Analysis, & Finalized Executive Recommendations
September 16, 2016 - January 31, 2017
- September - December 2016: OBM Review and Analysis of Requests
- January 2017: Executive recommendations finalized
- October 16, 2016: DUE DATE: Budget and Language Requests – Cabinet and Executive Agency
PHASE 3: Legislative Process
February 1, 2017 - June 30, 2017
- February - June 2017: Budget hearings held in the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate
*This includes opportunities for client changes to be included in the budget - June 30, 2017: Budget must be adopted
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