Ohio’s 135th General Assembly is working to hammer out its capital budget, a process our legislators undertake every two years that culminates in millions of dollars awarded to projects across the state in the spring.
Each of Ohio’s 88 counties jockey for a piece of this funding. It’s money that’s critical to economic development and moving key capital projects in our communities forward.
It’s money that helps fund some of the most important projects across the entire state.
I crunched the numbers from the last four General Assemblies, and Lucas County is solidly middle-of-the-pack when compared to Ohio’s other counties. There’s no reason for us not to be near the top, especially among our urban peers.
During the last GA, Lucas County received $5.4 million toward capital projects in our community. Divide that by our population of 431,279 as of the 2020 Census, and that breaks down to an investment of $12.53 per Lucas County resident.
The legislative session before that was similar, with a capital allocation of $4.97 million from the state, or $11.54 per resident; the 132nd GA gave Lucas County $4.3 million, or $9.97 per person; and the 131st GA awarded $5.73 million, or $13.27 per resident.
If you parse through all 88 counties, Lucas County ranks 44th when it comes to average per-resident capital investment over the last four GAs, pulling in an average of $11.83 per person each award cycle.
If you stack us up against the top 10 most populous counties in Ohio, we’re fourth from the bottom.
Hamilton County pulls in an average capital allotment of $29.82 per resident, followed by $18.17 for people in Cuyahoga County, $17.07 per person in Stark County, $15.83 per Franklin County resident, $12.89 for Summit County, and $12.78 per person in Montgomery County.
We have so many projects deserving of funding that are currently in the process of development in Lucas County. Projects that could transform the wellness of our community. Projects that could uplift our families. Projects that could make Lucas County a better place to live.
We need to give this issue attention. We must do better, and we can do better.
Instead of $5 million in capital funds awarded to Lucas County every two years, I want to see $15 million.
And there’s more than just the capital budget we should be going after. This year, the state will also allocate $700 million in one-time project funding from the Strategic Community Investment Fund.
I want to see $70 million of that invested in our community.
I have a unique vantage point for this process as a county commissioner who previously served in the statehouse and pushed for more funding to flow our way.
I’ve watched Hamilton, Cuyahoga, and Franklin counties take a coordinated, deliberate approach to their capital budget requests. They have convened relevant stakeholders, maximized collaboration, and prioritized community needs as they’ve pitched their projects.
It’s a practice that has served them well, and there’s no reason we can’t do the same here.
We have smart, forward-thinking, creative leaders in our community across all sectors— local government, arts and culture organizations, educational institutions, nonprofits, health care systems, and businesses.
Each of course has their own interests, but we need to set those aside and think bigger.
We’re always going to be in competition with Hamilton, Cuyahoga, Franklin, and the other counties. We’re doing ourselves a disservice if we then also compete amongst each other.
I’m committed to leading the charge with our local institutions to hash out a united strategy to pursue more capital dollars from the state that will have a bigger impact on our communities. We need to map out our collective priorities in order to position Lucas County for long-term economic success.
We need to be deliberate and strategic, and we need to think 10 years ahead instead of focusing only on the next funding round.
I’m willing to lead the tough conversations this will take.
We have great representation in Columbus, with Toledo’s Rep. Michele Grim and neighboring Perrysburg’s Representative Haraz Ghanbari serving on the House Finance Committee and Senators Paula Hicks-Hudson and Theresa Gavarone serving on the Senate Finance Committee.
We need to help them help us.
Year after year, Lucas County is gaining momentum.
We renovated our downtown convention center to attract more trade shows, conventions, and formal events, adding a beautiful new ballroom and public art displays. We have a new and expanding Metropark in East Toledo, an incredible zoo, and the Toledo Mud Hens that bring recreation and entertainment in Lucas County to the next level. We broke ground on a new Canine Care & Control facility, which will enhance the Monroe Street corridor and provide exceptional care to Lucas County dogs.
The list goes on.
Now is not the time to take our foot off the gas. There’s a buzz in our community that we must take advantage of and build upon.
Gone are the days of self-deprecation, imposter syndrome, and status quo.
We can and will collaborate to put our best foot forward and present our case. Because Lucas County residents deserve so much more.
We are stronger together. The time is now.
Lisa Sobecki (D) is a member of the Lucas County Board of Commissioners.
First Published February 1, 2024, 5:00 a.m.
