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State Funding Update

The Ohio Historical Society, like nearly all organizations that receive significant funding from the State of Ohio, is dealing with major state funding reductions. As part of its efforts to deal with current and potential reductions in state funding, the Society is seeking to inform our constituents about our funding situation and to obtain their thoughts and suggestions through a variety of mechanisms: public meetings, phone calls, letters, e-mails, etc.

Click on any of the buttons on the left side of this screen for information about the Society's services, its funding situation and ways you can express your opinion. We urge you to familiarize yourself with the information and make your voice heard on behalf of your Ohio Historical Society! Check out the latest press releases issued by Society.

OHS will update this information periodically, so visit this section of the website often. You can also sign up to receive e-mail updates about our budget situation by clicking here.

News Update - June 27
STATE OPERATING BUDGET INCLUDES ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR MOST SITES; SHORTFALL REMAINS FOR OTHER SOCIETY OPERATIONS

Governor Bob Taft signed into law Amended Substitute House Bill 95, the biennial appropriations bill, which includes the Society's operating subsidies for the period July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2005. The final "budget bill", signed on June 26, appropriated $13,423,356 for OHS ongoing operations in FY2004 with similar funding for FY2005. That amount represents an increase of $1.5 million over final FY2003 appropriations, $1.3 million over the Governor's initial recommendations, $2 million over the House recommendations, but $250,000 less than the Senate recommendations. It is $1.7 million under the total request that the Society had made to the Senate.

Nonetheless, the budget appropriations are both helpful and greatly appreciated. In particular, funding for most site operations was increased, with the exception of the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center and the Hayes Presidential Center, which are funded separately from other OHS site operations. Funding for other OHS programs, however, remained stable or was decreased. Unfortunately, OHS will be forced to reduce staff, programs and activities. In particular, funding is insufficient for the portions of the Society's budget that support Archives/Library, historic preservation, local history, and museum collections management functions. Reductions will be necessary in all of these areas.

Click here for a detailed comparison of the Society's subsidy levels throughout the budget process, including levels proposed by the Executive branch, Ohio House of Representatives, Ohio Senate and the final budget allocations. Click here for a graph that summarizes Society state operating subsidy in FY 2000 - FY 2003, along with FY 2004/2005 recommendations of the Governor, House, Senate, and final budget bill.

Highlights of the final budget (figures compare the budget allocations to final FY2003 appropriations) include:

• The bill provides a $1.6 million increase to OHS budget line 360-502, which supports most OHS site operations. This funding will enable OHS to maintain current site hours and expanded operations at newly enhanced facilities (e.g. Adena in Chillicothe and Fort Meigs in Perrysburg). The budget earmarks $2.2 million in FY 2004 and $1.55 million in FY 2005 to benefit historical organizations and activities other than OHS. This funding is not included in the $13.4 million allocated of OHS ongoing operations.
• Funding earmarked for the National Afro-American Museum (NAAMC) and the Hayes Presidential Center (Hayes) was appreciably below requested levels. The $778,231 for NAAMC is $137,000 less than the final FY2003 appropriation and is less than any year since 1987. The $524,981 for Hayes is $93,000 less than final FY2003 and is less than any year since 1997.
• The budget provides level funding for OHS budget line 360-501, which support the Society's general operations (including Archives-Library, Local History Office, and museum collections management functions). State funding for these operations is now less than any year since 1995.)
• Funding for the Society's historic preservation activities will decrease by $50,000 each year. Direct state funding for the Ohio Historic Preservation Office is now less than any year since 1997.
• The budget directs that licensing proceeds from the sale of Ohio bicentennial merchandise be placed in the General Fund. After "capturing" the first $100,000 to defray costs associated with the wrap-up of the Bicentennial Commission, $200,000 in FY 2004 and $150,000 in FY 2005 will be allocated to OHS to help defray the increased operating costs at Adena State Memorial in Ross County. These figures are based on estimated revenues and are in no way intended to be a guaranteed funding level.
• The budget also revises sections of the state code in ways that will allow the Society to generate additional non-state revenues. These include the following:

  • The Society can recover the true costs of production and distribution (not to exceed 110 percent of the total cost of publication) for its periodicals that it provides to public libraries.
  • OHS can charge reasonable "market prices" for educational materials (not to exceed 110% of the total cost of preparation and delivery).
  • The Society's archives administration can establish a fee schedule (which may include the cost of labor) for researching, retrieving, copying and mailing copies of public records in the state archives. The Society's Board of Trustees must approve the fee schedule.

News Update - June 23
BUDGET SIGNED BY LEGISLATURE, FORWARDED TO GOVERNOR FOR SIGNATURE

Compared to many state agencies and organizations that receive state dollars to fund operations, the Ohio Historical Society fared relatively well in the State of Ohio budget for the biennium that begins July 1. The budget, as passed by the Ohio General Assembly, has been forwarded to the Governor, who is expected to sign it before the July 1 deadline.

Legislators clearly indicated that they want to maintain public access to our system of more than 60 sites throughout the two-year period of the budget. We are grateful for the support from the General Assembly for the site system. We are now analyzing the entire budget allocation, which still falls short of what the Society needs to fund current levels of other programs and services. We reasonably anticipate that we will have to make some additional reductions in the weeks ahead.

Updates will be posted on this site as decisions are made about finalizing and implementing the budget.

We very much appreciate the volumes of letters, postcards and e-mails recently addressed and delivered to key government officials in our behalf; they were noticed.

News Update - June 5:
Senate Recommendations Provide Additional Funding; Shortfall Remains for Other Society Operations

The Ohio Senate adopted its version of the FY 2004-2005 operating appropriations bill on June 5, providing additional funding for the Ohio Historical Society over levels recommended by the Ohio House of Representatives. The final state appropriations allocated to the Society for the next two years now rests with a conference committee, which must produce a bill for the Governor to sign before July 1. Click here to learn more about the Senate recommendations and next steps in this process.

News Update - May 19:
SENATE DELIBERATING HOUSE VERSION OF BUDGET

The Ohio Historical Society announced it will be forced to make drastic cutbacks in jobs and public services if additional funding is not made available. Click here to learn about proposed changes in affected programs, sites and services.

News Update - April 24:
OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY TESTIFIES BEFORE OHIO SENATE

Today the Ohio Historical Society outlined implications of reduced state funding to its statewide services, programs, and workforce. Click here to review the testimony as delivered by Executive Director Gary Ness and Trustee Nancy Dix.

News Update - April 9:
OHIO HOUSE BUDGET WOULD FURTHER REDUCE OHS STATE FUNDING

The Ohio House of Representatives passed its version of the state budget on April 9. As passed, the Ohio Historical Society would be forced to make massive reductions in its staff and programs. Click here to learn more about the budget and the Society's reaction as the budget now begins its process through the Ohio Senate.