Westside Messenger - April 9th, 2023

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PAGE 4 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - April 9, 2023 Budget Process Update As a member of the House Finance Subcommittee for Primary & Secondary Education, I have been immersed in the budget process for the K12 portion of the state biennium budget. As you may know, Governor DeWine proposes a spending plan for the fiscal years 2024-25, which cover July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2025. Because the State only can expend money approved by the Legislature, both the House and Senate must approve the overall budget by June 30. The governor sent his budget proposal to the House of Representatives on January 31 when he gave his State of the State address. The first step in the approval process for the K12 portion of it is for the five-member House Finance K12 Subcommittee to conduct hearings and make its recommendations to the full 33-member House Finance Committee. The committee has spent the last two months hearing from scores of people and organizations in support of, in opposition to, or requesting modification of parts of the budget. I personally have met with over 100 different individuals representing themselves or various organizations with an interest in various parts of the budget. I am working with my four colleagues to recommend spending priorities to the full Finance Committee to consider. My top priority is to continue the effort to fund fully our public schools according to the Fair School Funding Plan (FSFP) approved by the Legislature in the last General Assembly. The plan, which will take six years to implement, should, when completed, satisfy the Ohio Supreme Court’s requirement that the State provide for a thorough and efficient public school system as written in the Ohio Constitution. The FSFP takes into account the variety of characteristics of Ohio’s 611 public school districts and is composed of elements related to enrollment size, property wealth, and student demographics, among others. Once our subcommittee makes our recommendations to the full Finance Committee, the latter group will approve what it deems appropriate and forward the budget to the entire House for its consideration. I anticipate that the House will vote to approve and send the budget to the Senate for its consideration. The Senate should act on it by mid-June with the joint Conference Committee working out any differences for approval by the entire Legislature by late June. Then the budget will get forwarded to Governor DeWine for his signature by June 30 so that it can take effect on July 1. (Dave Dobos represents the 10th District in the Ohio House of Representatives, which consists of parts of West, Southwest, and South Columbus, Grove City, and Urbancrest. He reports regularly on his activities in this position and his campaign has paid for this communication with you.) Paid Advertisement Free legal advice at Westland Library The Legal Aid Society of Columbus will offer free legal advice the first Monday of each month at the Westland Area Library, 4740 West Broad St. Representatives will be on hand from 4 to 6 p.m. to discuss non-criminal legal matters like health benefits, medicare, and landlord issues. Fore more information, call the library at 614-878-1301. Star Wars and Superhero Celebration The Columbia Heights United Methodist Church is hosting a Star Wars and Superhero Celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. on May 6 at 775 Galloway Road in Galloway. The event will feature free games, crafts, snacks and photos with Millennium Falcon cockpit www.columbusmessenger.com Recreation center remains a priority for Westland area By Hannah Poling Staff Writer Priorities for Westland in the city’s annual capital budget were discussed at the March meeting of the Westland Area Commissioners. The commissioners compiled a list of five areas they would like to see included in the capital budget. First, they requested a recreation center in the area which they report that they have been requesting in Westland for numerous years. “We are pretty consistent with number one on our list,” chairman Scott Taylor said. DestinationOutlets.com 800-213-9083 8000 Factory Shops Blvd. Jeffersonville, OH 43128 Averi Townsend, a legislative analyst with Columbus City Council, asked if the commissioners would be receptive about the city providing money to the commission in order for them to lease a space to meet in until they get a recreation center in their area. Townsend said that there are other commissions that also don’t have a place to meet and that providing money to lease a space could be a potential solution for the short term. “We can look at some creative solutions to find something in a short amount of time,” Townsend said. The commissioners also requested sidewalks and street lights, both fire and police substations, park land, and a permanent around the westside DOWNLOAD OUR MEMBERSHIP APP meeting place for the Westland Area Commissioners. The commissioners currently meet in the Auto Boutique on Georgesville Square Drive. According to Townsend, after the budget is introduced, city council will schedule hearings in rapid succession. Commissioner Janet Cahill said that it’s important for the commissioners to attend those hearings to try to get some of the Westland area priorities included in the budget. “We need to rattle their cage ahead of time before it goes to the budget process,” Cahill said. The proposed budget is anticipated to be introduced in May or June. and Superhero backgrounds. Come dressed in your favorite superhero or Star Wars costume. Donations will be accepted. To RSVP or for more information, contact Duane McVay at 614-400-5669. Hilltop Spring Jamboree Music Columbus, the Hilltop Arts Collective, and We Amplify Voices will host a Hilltop Spring Jamboree. The free event will run from 12 to 6 p.m. April 15 at the West Gate Lodge, 2925 West Broad St. in Columbus. It will feature several musical acts, as well as an instrument petting zoo. Hilltop Legal Clinic The Legal Aid Society of Columbus will host a Hilltop Legal Clinic every Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Columbus Metropolitan Library Hilltop Branch, 511 S. Hague Ave. in Columbus. A legal aid attorney will be available to answer questions regarding landlord and tenant issues, public benefits, consumer debt, and family law. To receive free advice, you must have a gross household income below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. For more information, call Legal Aid at 614-241-2001. Breakfast at the Lodge to benefit Special Olympics The West Gate Masonic Lodge #623 is preparing breakfast once a month to benefit the Special Olympics. The public is invited to have breakfast the second Saturday of each month at 2925 West Broad St. Adults eat for a donation of $6, children age 3 and above pay $3. Serving is from 9 a.m. to noon. Wellness and foot care LifeCare Alliance provides a nurse at the Prairie Township Community Center weekly to provide free foot care and other wellness services. To schedule an appointment or for more information, contact the wellness office at 614-437-2878. Produce giveaway at YMCA The Hilltop YMCA hosts a fresh produce giveaway the third Wednesday of each month from 4 to 6 p.m. at 2879 Valleyite Drive in Columbus. For more information, call the YMCA at 614-276-8224.
www.columbusmessenger.com April 9, 2023 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 5 Messenger photos by Dedra Cordle Cleaning up the community On March 26, dozens of community volunteers teamed up with members of the North Hilltop Neighborhood Association to participate in the first litter cleanup event sponsored by the local organization. According to Thomas Chahine, the executive director of the association, the intention is to host a traveling cleanup event across the northern section of the westside every two weeks as a part of their overall mission to improve the lives of those who live in the community. Volunteers interested in joining the cleanup efforts can find more information at www.northhilltop.org or via email at info@northhilltop.org. WESTGATE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 61 S. Powell Ave., Columbus,OH 43204 Come - Let’s Worship Together! Pastor Nancy Day-Achauer Worship Service 9:00 a.m. Sunday School 10:00 a.m. westgateumc@sbcglobal.net 614-274-4271 Be a Part of Our Local Worship Guide Our upcoming Worship Guide is geared toward celebrating faith and helping readers connect with religious resources in our community. Make sure these readers know how you can help with a presence in this very special section distributed to more than 25,000 households in the Westside area. Contact us today to secure your spot in our Worship Guide. 614.272.5422 • kathy@columbusmessenger.com Messenger Westside Please visit the Westside Church of your choice. List your Worship Services here. For info. call 614-272-5422 Christine Cockley and her partner, Simon Dallas, get to work cleaning up the litter tangled in the brush in the alleyway off Steele Avenue. The couple often volunteer at cleanup events around the city and even go out around their own neighborhood picking up debris in yards and gutters on a weekly basis. Cockley said although the cleanup efforts can be unpleasant at times, they like to make it a fun competition to see who can pick up the most trash. To see more photos, visit columbusmessenger.com. Thomas Rouse DDS, Jason T. Culley DDS FAGD • General Family Dentistry • Cosmetic Dentistry • Dental Implants and Crowns No insurance, no problem: In Office Membership Program available to adults and children. 1225 Dublin Rd. STE 40 Columbus, Oh 43215 614-488-9050 Accepting most insurance FREE Whitening with a New Patient exam 9745 Fairway Dr. Powell, Oh 43065 614-766-5722 5040 Palmetto St. STE A Columbus, Oh 43228 614-878-7733
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Westside Messenger - April 9th, 2023

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