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Ohio Property Taxes
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Funding Ohio Education
Explainer

Nominal School Spending Is Not the Same as Inflation-Adjusted Spending

Nominal spending reports the dollars actually spent in each year; inflation-adjusted spending converts different years into comparable purchasing-power terms.

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What This Graphic Shows

Nominal spending reports the dollars actually spent in each year; inflation-adjusted spending converts different years into comparable purchasing-power terms.

Key Takeaway

Always ask whether a long-run spending comparison is nominal or inflation-adjusted.

Verification Status:

Verified — Current

Last Verified:

September 19, 2026

Sources

Review the sources used to support this visual.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Consumer Price Index

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Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

Overview of School Funding

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Total School Funding Is Not the Same as Funding Per Student

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Per-student spending is a ratio. If enrollment falls faster than total spending, spending per student can rise even when total spending changes much less.

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Has Ohio's State Share of School Funding Changed?

Ohio school funding combines state and local sources, and the balance varies across districts and over time. The current formula uses local property values and income to help determine the state share.

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