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Flat income tax, unclaimed funds for Browns stadium make final Ohio budget plan

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Flat income tax, unclaimed funds for Browns stadium make final Ohio budget plan


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  • Ohio’s proposed budget includes a flat income tax of 2.75% for earners above $26,051.
  • $600 million in unclaimed funds would go toward a new Cleveland Browns stadium and entertainment district.
  • The budget awaits Gov. DeWine’s signature or veto by July 1.

Ohio Republicans will cut taxes for people who earn six figures and use Ohioans’ abandoned money to help pay for a new Cleveland Browns stadium.

The proposals are part of the GOP-controlled Legislature’s compromise budget plan. The House and Senate passed their own versions of the two-year spending bill, then spent days behind closed doors to hash out differences.

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Both chambers are expected to vote on the budget June 25 and send it to Gov. Mike DeWine, who must sign it before July 1. DeWine can also veto individual items he doesn’t support.

Here’s what we know about the budget so far.

Ohio flat income tax

The final budget maintains an income tax cut for Ohioans who earn six figures and taxes everyone making over $26,051 at 2.75%. Currently, the state taxes income over $100,000 at 3.5% and income earned between $26,051 and $100,000 at 2.75%.

People who make less than $26,051 don’t pay income taxes.

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“We found a way to give that important new tax relief to Ohioans while also doing a lot of the priorities that we had here in the House,” said Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, the chief budget negotiator for the House.

The flat tax is the culmination of years of work by Republicans to slash Ohio’s income tax. DeWine has expressed concern about further tax cuts but declined to say June 23 whether he would sign a flat tax into law.

Cleveland Browns stadium set to get $600M in Ohio unclaimed funds

Lawmakers opted for the Senate’s plan to help pay for a new Cleveland Browns stadium and entertainment district in Brook Park.

The budget would use $1.7 billion in unclaimed funds to fund sports and cultural projects, with $600 million reserved for the Browns. Unlike past uses of unclaimed funds, this would allow the state to assume ownership of abandoned paychecks and security deposits after 10 years.

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Ohio is currently sitting on $4.8 billion in unclaimed property.

The Senate proposal was one of three dramatically different ideas for the Brook Park development. House Republicans proposed a $600 million bond − which would cost $1 billion with interest − and DeWine wanted to double the sports gaming tax to pay for the Browns’ stadium and other projects.

“Like a lot of things, I’m sure that will be tested in court if that’s what the Legislature ends up doing,” DeWine said of the Senate plan. “I’m sure it’ll be tested, but a lot of things get tested in court.”

This story will be updated.

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State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at hbemiller@gannett.com or @haleybemiller on X.

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Ohio

Sieh Bangura runs for 149 yards and a score, helps Ohio beat UNLV 17-10 in Frisco Bowl

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Sieh Bangura runs for 149 yards and a score, helps Ohio beat UNLV 17-10 in Frisco Bowl


FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Sieh Bangura rushed for 149 yards and a touchdown and Ohio beat UNLV 17-10 on Tuesday night to win the Frisco Bowl.

The Bobcats (9-4) have won their last seven bowl games — dating to 2017 — after losing eight of their first 10.

Defensive coordinator and interim head coach John Hauser led Ohio to this victory after head coach Brian Smith was fired earlier in the month for having an affair with an undergraduate student.

Ohio’s Parker Navarro had a 5-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper five minutes into the second quarter for the only score of the first half. The lead was 6-0 after David Dellenbach’s extra-point kick hit the right upright.

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UNLV (10-4) had a first down on the Bobcats’ 33-yard line with 32 second left, but DJ Walker picked off an Anthony Colandrea pass in the end zone to keep it 6-0.

Bangura scored on a 23-yard run less than four minutes into the third quarter, and Navarro passed to Chase Hendricks for the two-point conversion and a 14-0 lead.

Hendricks muffed a punt at the end of UNLV’s first possession and Kayden McGee recovered at the Ohio 30. The Rebels settled for a career-long 50-yard field goal by Ramon Villela to cut it to 14-3.

Dellenbach kicked a 45-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, but Colandrea scored on a fourth-and-goal run from the 2 to get the Rebels within 17-10 with 4:45 remaining. UNLV never got the ball back in falling to 4-4 all time in bowl games.

Navarro completed 11 of 15 passes for 143 yards with an interception. Bangura did his damage on 19 carries.

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Colandrea totaled 184 yards on 19-for-30 passing.

UNLV had the nation’s longest run of scoring at least 20 points end at 35 games.

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Ohio AG on human trafficking: It’s not rich and poor, it’s literally all around us

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Ohio AG on human trafficking: It’s not rich and poor, it’s literally all around us


For the second time in two years, the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force and the Steubenville Police Department have joined forces to combat human trafficking crimes.

In October, the operation led to the arrest of eight individuals for sex trafficking offenses, including men from Follansbee and St. Clairsville.

Earlier, in July 2024, 10 men from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia were apprehended and charged with solicitation and possession of criminal tools.

“It just goes to show that human trafficking happens everywhere,” Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. “This isn’t a big city thing, it happens in small towns, it happens out in the country. It’s not rich and poor, it’s literally all around us.

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“I am hopeful that the message is going out around Ohio and Steubenville and the Mahoning Valley — Don’t Buy Sex in Ohio!”

He also highlighted the support provided to survivors during these operations.

“We always have social service providers that partner with us that are on site. So, whether it’s something simple like a meal or a shower or something as necessary as an addiction treatment bed — we’re there to try and help provide the resource,” Yost added.

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For those affected by human trafficking, a victim services directory is available here.



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3 kids lead police on Ohio car chase after learning to steal vehicles on YouTube: officials

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3 kids lead police on Ohio car chase after learning to steal vehicles on YouTube: officials


NEWBURGH HEIGHTS, Ohio — Three kids, ages 12, 11, and 8, led Ohio police on a chase in a stolen car on Saturday, according to police.

According to the Newburgh Heights Police Department, an 11-year-old was driving a car that was stolen from Parma, WEWS reported.

Officers chased the car on Harvard Avenue west over the Denison Bridge. Shortly after the chase began, the car crashed into a house on Denison Avenue, police said.

No injuries were reported.

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Newburgh Heights PD said two brothers, an 8-year-old and an 11-year-old, along with a 12-year-old, began running from the police.

After police caught them, the kids told officers they watched YouTube videos to learn how to steal cars, police said.

According to the department, the boys were released to their parents, and police will file charges in juvenile court.

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