05/25/2022

Message from Beth -- May 25, 2022

This week, a $3.3 Billion capital bill was introduced in the Ohio House and Senate Finance Committees. Among the larger appropriations is $606 million for K-12 facilities. It also includes $457 million for the Department of Higher Education and state colleges and universities, and $400 million for local infrastructure needs through the Public Works Commission. It is expected that the bill will move quickly through the legislative process over the next few weeks.

The Office of Budget and Management Director Kimberly Murnieks testified on the FY 2023-2024 plan which includes community projects. The bill currently includes authorization for over $2.7 billion in General Revenue Fund-backed debt and another $594 million from other sources, including about $300 million in pandemic relief assistance, the OBM director said.

Two agencies are in line for significant boosts allocated based on the use of one-time American Rescue Plan Act funding. Of the $515 million proposed for the Department of Natural Resources, for example, $202 million comes from the one-time ARPA funding to the state, the Director stated.*

Those funds will go toward "improvements to park assets and repairs and upgrades to trails and trail facilities, as well as water and wastewater facilities," she said. "This is another excellent opportunity to further improve state facilities without having to issue additional debt to pay for these much-needed projects."

Another $72 million in ARPA money has been targeted for building a new Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory under the Department of Agriculture budget. Some federal funding will also be used to upgrade HVAC equipment in state prisons and for other improvements in the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction's capital budget.

The legislative language has not yet been introduced. Click here for Director Murnieks testimony.

Feel free to contact me with any questions,

~Beth

*source Gongwer News