COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lawmakers at the Statehouse laid out a plan on how to spend nearly $2 billion dollars on projects across the state. The Ohio House passed a bill that allocates $1.65 billion for projects that will be funded by bonds, along with others funded by $350 million of the One Time Strategic Community Investment Fund.
What You Need To Know
- Ohio House lawmakers laid out a plan for their portion of the One Time Strategic Community Investment Fund
- The Ohio House has a total of $350 million of the $700 million allocated for onetime spending on projects, and the Senate will allocate the other $350 million in the near future
- House Bill 2 laid out the proposed projects
State Rep. Jay Edwards, R-Nelsonville, is among the lawmakers who helped put together the plan. The plan has $350 million worth of local projects that are being paid for by leftover COVID-19 money from the One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund. It allocates the money to local projects statewide.
In Cleveland, for example, it would help with a project to create a pedestrian bridge to connect the downtown area to Lake Erie. It has several other projects that also help rural areas.
“We were able to get more money into the rural areas of the state than what we typically do proportionally,” said Edwards.
House Bill 2 also includes capital appropriations to fund new schools, infrastructure projects, colleges, universities and local jails. It was voted on the Ohio House floor on Wednesday after clearing committee earlier in the day. Speaker of the House Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, said he wants to help speed up the process prior to the hot summer months.
“What I would like for us to do is to get that money and get it into the system. You know, getting shovels into the dirt as soon as possible into this construction season,” said Stephens.
Stephens said having access to the One-Time Strategic Community Fund will help the state down the line.
“Which gives a little more flexibility for the Capital Budget to have some fun,” Stephens said.
Meanwhile, the Ohio Senate also received $350 million to allocate and spend on big projects in the community. However, it does not appear that the Senate President is on board with the Ohio House’s process. Senate President Matt Huffman released a letter late Wednesday afternoon saying his chamber plans to combine the Capital Budget and the onetime funds in a bill that state senators hope to pass this upcoming spring.
A breakdown summary of the Ohio House's plan released on House Bill 2 can be found here.