School funding bill stalls in Senate

COLUMBUS - A vote on a bill that would give financial aid to public school districts hurt by the growth of charter schools was put on hold yesterday in the Ohio Senate.

The Senate Finance Committee has approved the legislation. However, the bill's sponsor, Sen. Roy Ray, R-Akron, said it will not go to the full Senate for a vote because Gov. Bob Taft's office believes it doesn't provide a permanent solution to transportation problems created by charter schools.

The legislation would make $10 million available to school districts as reimbursement for having to bus students to charter schools during the last two years. It also would give the districts $5 million for school bus purchases.

Charter schools are publicly funded, privately run institutions that aren't subject to most state regulations. Public school districts are responsible for transporting charter-school students, but receive no money in return.

"I have been advised by the governor's office that at this particular time, it does not want to see this bill pass," said Ray, the finance committee's chairman. The bill has faced no other opposition.

"My concept was that this would be a bridge, a temporary fix, and that we would come back in the operating budget for school funding this year and come up with a permanent solution," Ray said. "It was just an attempt on my part to address this now and get those districts some help now."

Taft spokeswoman Denise Lee said the state Office of Budget and Management is reviewing the legislation.

"These schools need help, but we need something that's long-term," she said.

Lawmakers and Taft are attempting to overhaul the way Ohio gives money to public schools. The Ohio Supreme Court has twice declared the school-funding system unconstitutional because it relies too heavily on local property taxes, creating disparities between rich and poor districts.