Funding Would Increase Slightly for Lakewood Schools Under Governor’s Budget Proposal

If Gov. John Kasich’s budget proposal goes forward, the Lakewood schools would see a slight increase during the next two years. 

The governor revealed his school funding reform plan last week, promising that no districts would lose money in the next two years under his proposal. The proposal aims to close the gap between high- and low-income districts and, Kasich said, it would be fully funded from the start. The state supreme court has repeatedly found Ohio's school funding system to be unconstitutional. A plan proposed by former Gov. Ted Strickland also aimed to address this, but was not fully funded when passed.

Kasich's overall budget proposal was announced on Monday.

According to figures released by the state’s Office of Budget and Management, the Lakewood City Schools would receive an estimated $17,446,393 in fiscal year 2014—the same as it is receiving in fiscal year 2013. The fiscal year 2013 figure does not include transportation funds or funds related to career technical education, the state's information notes.

The district would see a slight increase in fiscal year 2015: $17,776,347. That's a little less than 2 percent more.

Superintendent Jeff Patterson could not be reached as of publication.