Week in Review: Feb. 26, 2023

FY24-25 BUDGET

Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Director Kathleen Madden got their chances to lay out their plans for the FY24-25 state budget Tuesday, providing testimony to lawmakers in the House Finance Subcommittee on Higher Education and fielding questions on the implementation of 134-HB458, in LaRose's case, and on the Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS), in Madden's case.

SECRETARY OF STATE

Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced 17,006 new business filings in January 2023, the highest January number of business filings in Ohio history.

TREASURER OF STATE

Treasurer of State Robert Sprague hinted at a forthcoming program to address home ownership, telling the House Finance Public Safety Subcommittee that his office, in conjunction with the governor's office and the Ohio Department of Taxation, is "developing specialized, tax-advantaged savings accounts to encourage and promote homeownership throughout the state. While the program is in its very early stages of development, we are optimistic about its potential. To purchase a home in Ohio is to invest in Ohio, and I look forward to doing our part in helping more Ohioans realize the dream of homeownership." This revelation followed his opening salvo telling the subcommittee that the proposed FY24-25 budget for his office includes a reduction of 34 percent in its General Revenue Fund (GRF) allocation in FY24 and an additional 14 percent reduction in FY25, "drawing instead upon ample balances in the office's dedicated purpose funds.”