H.B. 1 Represents the Lowest Growth Budget in Modern Ohio History
General Revenue Fund (GRF) appropriations contained in H.B. 1 represent a 3.8 percent decrease compared to actual FY 2009 spending of $26.8 billion with appropriations set at $24.6 billion and $25.9 billion in FY 2010 and FY 2011. These appropriation levels not only result in a decrease compared to FY 2009, but also represent the first time in modern Ohio history that biennial appropriations decreased compared to the previous biennium. As a result of this negative growth, total spending for the four-year period of FY 2008 – 2011 will be 4.4 percent, which would be the lowest four-year growth level since at least 1947. The following chart illustrates the growth in Ohio GRF spending since 1968 and the growth by administration.