Key takeaways
- Ohio state government spent $99.7 billion in fiscal 2024, the 7th most of any state.
- Statewide purchasing runs through the Department of Administrative Services, Office of Procurement Services, and vendors register and find bids in OhioBuys.
- The fiscal year starts July 1; the governor's FY2028-29 budget proposal usually comes within 4 weeks of convening; a new governor has until March 15.
- The 2027 legislative session convenes Jan. 4 and is scheduled to adjourn Dec. 31.
- A new governor, Amy Acton, takes office Jan. 11, 2027.
Ohio government at a glance
| Fact | Ohio |
|---|---|
| State spending, FY 2024 | $99.7 billion (7th of 50) |
| Fiscal year starts | July 1 |
| Next budget | FY2028-29 · proposal usually within 4 weeks of convening; a new governor has until March 15 |
| 2027 legislative session | Jan. 4 to Dec. 31 (362 days) |
| Governor-elect | Amy Acton, takes office Jan. 11, 2027 |
| Central procurement office | Department of Administrative Services, Office of Procurement Services |
| Bid and vendor portal | OhioBuys |
| State CIO | Katrina Flory, State CIO and Assistant Director |
| Local governments | 3,939 total, including 952 special districts and 665 school districts |
| Public power and co-op utilities | 85 public power utilities and 25 electric co-ops |
| State prison population | 46,530 (end of 2023) |
How Ohio buys
- Central purchasing. The Department of Administrative Services, Office of Procurement Services handles statewide contracts and purchasing rules for state agencies.
- Where bids are posted. OhioBuys is where vendors register and find state solicitations.
- Registering as a vendor. Our Ohio vendor registration guide walks through the steps, fees and documents.
- Agencies and local buyers. Many agencies, universities, cities, counties and school districts buy on their own or through cooperative contracts; see our cooperative purchasing guide.
Purchase thresholds
| Tier | Rule |
|---|---|
| Little or no competition | $5,000 or less |
| Informal quotes | Over $5,000 to under $50,000: 2 or more suppliers |
| Formal solicitation | $50,000 and above (DAS competitive selection) |
Source: ORC §125.05; DAS Policy PM-01. Agency and local thresholds can differ; see our state procurement thresholds guide.
Budget and legislative calendar
- Fiscal year. Ohio's fiscal year starts July 1. The next budget covers FY2028-29.
- Governor's proposal. Usually released Within 4 weeks of convening; a new governor has until March 15. Status as of Nov. 8, 2026: not yet released. Track it in our governor budget proposals tracker.
- 2027 session. Convenes Jan. 4 and is scheduled to adjourn Dec. 31. Meets throughout the year. See the 2027 legislative session calendar.
- New administration. Governor-elect Amy Acton takes office Jan. 11, 2027. New administrations often bring new agency leaders and priorities; see new governors in 2027.
Technology and AI
- State CIO. Katrina Flory, State CIO and Assistant Director, leads the Department of Administrative Services. See the full state CIO directory.
- AI policy. Our tracker counts no executive orders, no laws and 3 agency policies on government AI use, plus an AI office or council. See the state AI policy tracker.
- How IT buying works. See how state agencies buy technology.
Largest public buyers in Ohio
The biggest Ohio entities on our national rankings. Each one runs its own budget and, in most cases, its own purchasing.
| Buyer | Type | Size | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | City | 938,396 residents (2025) | 15 of 100 largest cities |
| Cleveland | City | 363,608 residents (2025) | 53 of 100 largest cities |
| Cincinnati | City | 314,367 residents (2025) | 66 of 100 largest cities |
| Franklin County | County | 1,361,536 residents (2025) | 32 of 100 largest counties |
| Cuyahoga County | County | 1,232,925 residents (2025) | 38 of 100 largest counties |
| Hamilton County | County | 838,418 residents (2025) | 76 of 100 largest counties |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus | Public university | 61,443 students (fall 2024) | 9 of 40 largest |
| University of Cincinnati-Main Campus | Public university | 45,026 students (fall 2024) | 36 of 40 largest |
| The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Auth. | Transit agency | 22,415,400 trips (2023) | 37 of 50 largest |
| Cleveland-Hopkins International | Airport | 4,855,943 passengers boarded (2025) | 46 of 100 busiest |
| John Glenn Columbus International | Airport | 4,396,625 passengers boarded (2025) | 49 of 100 busiest |
| Cleveland Water | Water utility | 1,308,955 people served | 15 of 208 largest |
| City of Columbus Division of Water | Water utility | 1,305,946 people served | 16 of 208 largest |
| Cleveland Public Power | Public power utility | 73,666 electric customers (2024) | 44 of 50 largest |
| Columbus (OH) Police | Police department | 1,838 sworn officers (2016) | 23 of 50 largest |
| Cleveland (OH) Police | Police department | 1,475 sworn officers (2016) | 29 of 50 largest |
| Franklin County Sheriff's Office | Sheriff's office | 553 sworn personnel (2016) | 24 of 50 largest |
| MetroHealth System | Public hospital system | $1.97 billion revenue (2024) | — |
| Ohio Department of Medicaid | State agency | About $48B FY2027, Medicaid all funds budget | 4 of 16 largest |
Sources: KSG rankings of the largest cities, counties, school districts, public universities, transit agencies, airports, water utilities, public power utilities, police departments and other lists. Figures are from each list's source year.
Local government and utilities
- 3,939 local governments. That includes 952 special districts and 665 school districts. See special districts by state.
- Utilities. 85 public power utilities and 25 electric cooperatives serve 805,219 customers, 34% of the state. See Ohio utilities.
- Budget cycles. Cities, counties and school districts set their own fiscal years; see city and county budget calendars.
How KSG helps
Kensington Sales Group's SDRs book meetings with public agencies across Federal, SLED, K-12 & Higher Ed, Healthcare, Tribal, Special Districts and Utilities. We research Ohio buyers, time outreach to state and local budget cycles and get you in front of the people who own the problem you solve. See how our state and local sales development works.
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