Rep. Isaacsohn Announces Passage of Final State Capital Budget, Securing $100m for Cincinnati, Hamilton County

June 26, 2024

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) today announced the passage of House Bill (HB) 2, the state's biennial state capital budget, by the Ohio General Assembly. The record-setting $6.2B investment makes appropriations for state-owned infrastructure, colleges, universities, and school districts, as well as other community projects. Rep. Isaacsohn helped secure $100m for Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

In addition to the $3.51B in traditional capital funds and a $1.98B appropriation for ongoing projects, HB 2 includes an additional $700M in state funds that will be directly invested into transformative community projects designed to generate further development & economic opportunity across the state. These additional state funds were set aside due to the influx of federal relief dollars that helped to supplement the state’s balance sheet during the most recent state operating budget.

“We serve in the legislature in Columbus to deliver results for the people of Cincinnati, and that is what we were able to do with this year’s budget,” said Rep. Isaacsohn. “This funding will help kids get the services they need, expand programs to feed the hungry, and build new facilities for local communities and non-profits. I am proud of what we accomplished, but am also committed to making the process more equitable and community-focused in the future.”

The $100M of funds will be distributed to several local entities, including:

$1.65M for Cincinnati Art Museum Improvements;
$1.4M for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati;
$500,000 the BLOC Ministries Horses on the Hill Program;
$450,000 for Santa Maria Community Services;
$400,000 for the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati Domestic Violence Shelter;
$200,000 for the ArtWorks Painting the Future Together program, and;
$200,000 for the Regal Theater Restoration.

Additionally, HB 2 includes approximately $1.6B of capital budget funding for the following state entities:

$600M to provide funding for K-12 school classroom facility projects overseen by OFCC;
$575M for the Public Works Commission to issue grants and loans to local governments for road and bridge projects, fresh water treatment and distribution systems, wastewater collection and treatment facilities, storm sewer systems, and solid waste disposal facilities, and;
$415.7M for state-supported higher education institutions to conduct construction of new facilities, major renovations of existing facilities, or basic renovations at public universities and their regional campuses and community colleges.

HB 2 now heads to the governor's desk for his signature.