COLUMBUS — Area airport, shoreline, recreational, county jail, zoo, theater, and other construction, renovation, and technological projects cleared their first hurdle on Wednesday on their way toward seeing checks in the mail.
The Ohio House overwhelmingly approved what would essentially be a $2 billion, phase one of the state's two-year capital budget.
The spending plan now goes to the Senate, which made it clear that there is no agreement between the House and Senate.
House Bill 2 would spend half of a new $700 million One-Time Strategic Community Investments Fund designed to invest in shovel-ready infrastructure projects to spur economic development. That money was set aside from budget surpluses last year when lawmakers were debating Ohio's current two-year operating budget.
A number of proposals on the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce's wish list of projects would be funded under House Bill 2, although not always at the level requested.
“This is the normal timing for the capital budget,” House Speaker Jason Stephens (R., Kitts Hill) said. “What I would like for us to do is to get that money into the system, get the shovels into the dirt, as soon as possible this construction season. Hopefully, the Senate will be able to act quickly on their portion of that so we can get that into the hands of our local communities. It will be a really good thing for Ohio.”
Among the larger price tags for northwest Ohio is $3 million toward reconstruction and restoration of the seawall and river's edge in Toledo. Metroparks Toledo had asked for $15 million toward a total project cost of $30 million.
The Landing project in Erie County, turning the former Griffing Airport site into a 27-acre waterfront park between Cedar Point Sports Center and Sandusky Bay, is slated for $3 million.
If the plan wins approval, the Area Office on Aging of Northwest Ohio would receive $1.7 million toward its plans to develop the handicapped-accessible Virginia Stanahan Trail and to build additional senior affordable housing and facilities for socializing.
That's less than a third of the $4.9 million the agency had requested toward a total project cost of $22.3 million.
The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority had requested $10 million for renovations or replacement of jet bridges, security checkpoints, baggage system, restrooms, and other general improvements at the Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport.
The estimated total price tag for that project is $54 million project, but it would get only $1 million of that through House Bill 2.
Rep. Jay Edwards (R., Nelsonville), chairman of the House Finance Committee, cautioned that the more traditional capital budget, one typically funded through borrowing, may yet include projects that failed to make the first cut. They might also be considered when — or if — the Senate takes up the bill.
Statewide, the bill holds:
• $600 million to continue construction and renovation of K-12 schools.
• $400 million for the Ohio Public Works Commission for local road, water, and sewer infrastructure.
• $400 million in improvements and technological upgrades for higher education institutions.
• $250 million for local jail construction and renovation for counties — $150 million for smaller counties and $100 million for their larger counterparts.
Rep. Al Cutrona (R., Canfield), one of the bill's sponsors, pointed to the House's $350 million half of the One-Time fund.
“This has only been made possible because of our fiscally conservative budgets, our strong economy, and healthy economy here in the state of Ohio. ...,” he said. “It provides over 300 unique projects all across the state of Ohio, things that will propel Ohio forward. This is a great opportunity to take care of the generations to come.”
Debate over the bill was pulled into the larger split among House Republicans as about seven members repeatedly stood up to make motions or offer amendments, only to be ignored by Mr. Stephens.
“What a coward,” said Rep. Derek Merrin (R., Monclova Township) as he was again passed over. Other lawmakers who stood with him had supported him for speaker over Mr. Stephens.
They sought on Wednesday to force votes on stalled bills like Senate Bill 83, pushing back on what supporters claim is a liberal bias among university faculty, and House Bill 51, which would prohibit Ohio from enforcing federal gun rules seen as violating the Second Amendment.
The capital bill has also been caught up on the fight over who will be the next House speaker — Mr. Stephens or current Senate President Matt Huffman (R., Lima). The Merrin faction of the caucus distributed a list of how much was earmarked in the districts of each of the so-called “Blue 22,” the GOP representatives who broke with the rest of the GOP caucus to vote with Democrats to elect Mr. Stephens over Mr. Merrin.
Action now in the House's last session day before the March 19 primary gives those lawmakers now facing primary challenges an opportunity to campaign back home on their votes to bring home funding.
Mr. Huffman said the Senate still plans to vote on a single bill incorporating both the traditional capital budget and the One-Time fund in May or June.
“The bill passed by the House did not include negotiations or discussions with members of the Senate or with the Senate President,” Mr. Huffman said in a memo. “Approving a large spending bill without additional debate would be irresponsible and an abdication of the duties of the Senate.
“Normally, both chambers work together to create an agreed upon bill,” he said. “For unknown reasons, the House chose to break from that process.”
Other northwest Ohio beneficiaries include:
• $19.1 million total for the University of Toledo for Carlson Library renovations, a reverse osmosis auto watering system for research animals, Department of Laboratory Animal Resources procedure room renovations, and mechanical and electrical upgrades.
• $17.6 million total for Bowling Green State University for the Technology Engineering Innovation Center infrastructure improvements, academic building improvements at the Firelands campus, and other building rehabilitation.
• $5.6 million total of Owens Community College for heating, air conditioning, and electrical improvements.
• $1.82 million for improvements at 4-H Camp Palmer in Fayette, Fulton County.
• $1.45 million for the Ability Center's Inclusive Multigenerational Community and Recreation Center in Toledo.
• $1.6 million for repairs to the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department facility.
• $1 million for renovations of the Toledo YWCA Domestic Shelter Project. The YWCA of Northwest Ohio had requested $4 million toward a total $7 million project.
• $1 million for breakwater, pier, and boardwalk improvements at Battery Park near downtown Sandusky.
• $1 million for Fremont downtown renovation.
• $950,000 for revitalization of Toledo’s Ottawa Park.
• $850,000 for the Toledo Zoo reptile house.
First Published February 7, 2024, 6:17 p.m.
