Some of Today's State News Headlines
Today is Thursday January 24, 2008
State predicting budget shortfall up to $1.9 billion
By STEPHEN MAJORS
Associated Press Writer
COLUMBUS (AP) - The state is predicting a budget shortfall between $733 million and $1.9 billion in the current two-year budget, and state agencies must propose spending cuts in the days and weeks ahead, Gov. Ted Strickland said Wednesday.
Strickland said he would protect programs he considers critical, such as expanding state health care to more low-income children, but predicted difficult choices ahead.
State economists forecast that the budget will face a $733 million gap if the economy grows slowly, $1.3 billion if there is no growth, and $1.9 billion if it goes into recession.
The high figure represents 3.6 percent of the state's two-year, $52.3 billion budget that began last July and goes through June 2009.
In 1982-1983, there was a $534 million deficit on a $6.7 billion budget - an 8 percent gap that was plugged with a hefty income tax hike. Other considerable deficits have happened roughly every decade since, with budget gaps just before and after the 2001 terror attacks comparable to current predictions.
(Refer to page 8 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
Ohio schools spend less time, money on gifted and talented students
CLEVELAND (AP) - Fourth-grader Alex Paul sometimes gets bored in class except when he spends one day a week with other gifted students.
"The work is much harder. It's trickier," he said. "I like that."
Unlike in many other states, Ohio schools are not required to offer services for gifted students even though about one of every six students in public schools is classified as gifted, The Plain Dealer reported Wednesday.
During the last school year, about a quarter of Ohio's gifted students received either full or partial services, according to data filed with the Ohio Department of Education.
Advocates for gifted children say federal laws focusing on passing standardized tests and a lack of money within school districts are stopping schools from offering more help for gifted students.
Alex Paul's teacher, Charlene Hartley, who works with gifted students in Elyria said she wishes she had more class time so she challenge the children even more.
She meets with the class 36 days during the school year, compared with 180 days for the typical teacher.
Federal law requires special education for children with disabilities but not gifted students.
(Refer to page 8 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
Hamilton County jail restarts plan to charge inmates $30 booking fee
CINCINNATI (AP) - Hamilton County officials say they are bringing back a "pay to stay" program in its jails.
Starting next month, all incoming inmates convicted of an offense will be required to pay a one-time $30 reception fee to help offset the cost of their stay. The money will come out of the inmate's commissary account, a kind of jail bank account for snacks and other extras.
Inmates who cannot afford the fee will be exempt. The county says only about 10 percent of the estimated 50,000 inmates booked annually will end up paying the fee, but that should leave the county with a net gain of about $150,000 a year.
A previous "pay to stay" program in the county was found unconstitutional in 2002 because it charged all inmates, regardless of whether they had been convicted.
(Refer to page 8 of today's Daily Chief-Union)
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