OLBCF Slams Ohio Senate Budget: $600M for Stadiums, $700M for the Rich — Nothing for Black or Working Families
- OLBCF
- 12 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Contact:
Jayah J. Watters-Clark
Director of Communications
216-505-7230
The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation (OLBCF) is condemning the Ohio Senate’s recently passed budget (HB 96), which prioritizes billionaires over Black communities and working-class families across the state.
Passed on June 11, the Senate’s budget includes a $600 million taxpayer subsidy to build a new stadium for the Cleveland Browns, owned by Jimmy and Dee Haslam — whose net worth exceeds $8.8 billion. The deal was inserted at the last minute with no public hearings, using public dollars that could instead support education, housing, healthcare, and infrastructure.
The Senate also approved a $700 million income tax cut that overwhelmingly benefits Ohio’s wealthiest residents, while low- and middle-income families see little to no relief. These cuts come at the cost of essential services that Ohioans depend on every day.
“Budgets show what we value—and this one says that our state government only cares about stadiums and billionaires. We refuse to let our communities be sacrificed for the comfort of the wealthy. Lawmakers must be held accountable for choosing luxury over livelihood, and it’s up to us to demand better.”
—Shayla L. Davis, President & CEO, Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation
At a Glance: What’s in the Senate Budget
$600 Million for a Stadium
Half the cost of a $1.2B project for the Browns
No public input, no community benefit guarantees
Funded at the expense of urgent public needs
$700 Million Tax Giveaway
Benefits the rich, leaves working people behind
Drains revenue from schools, health services, and infrastructure
Cuts to Child Care & Medicaid
$61M cut from childcare: fewer slots, longer waitlists, higher costs
$440M cut from Medicaid: fewer doctors, less mental health care, more barriers to prescriptions
Disproportionate harm to Black, low-income, and elderly Ohioans
Public Funds Diverted to Private Schools
$265M expansion of EdChoice and $221M expansion charter school funding
Undermines public education, especially in urban and underserved districts
Private institutions often fail to equitably serve Black, disabled, or low-income students
Threats to Election Oversight
Abolishes the Ohio Elections Commission, risking increased partisan control
Raises alarm about election integrity, especially for Black voters already facing suppression.
What’s Next
HB 96 will now move into budget negotiations between the House and Senate. Lawmakers must finalize and pass a budget before July 1, when the new fiscal year begins. From there, Governor Mike DeWine will have the opportunity to sign, veto, or revise the bill.
OLBCF Calls on Ohioans to Take Action!
We reject this budget and demand investments in:
Public schools
Affordable childcare
Black communities
Healthcare access
Voting rights