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Callender Opposes Untimely University Spending, Supports More Coronavirus-Relief and Transit Funding

April 21, 2020
Jamie Callender News

State Rep. Jamie Callender (R-Concord) and the Ohio State Controlling Board approved many items at today’s meeting, which included more coronavirus-relief and transit funding to help improve areas across the state. However, Callender did oppose several other measures on the agenda pertaining to higher education.

“At a time when record numbers of Ohioans are out of work and suffering, we should be focusing our resources toward the areas and people in our state that need it most,” Callender said.  “We cannot afford to take the approach of business as usual, we need to take a step back and reevaluate our priorities.”

Regarding the opposition, Callender indicated that he was concerned that failing to include these expenditures as a part of a more comprehensive plan could result in budgeting difficulties for the state.  Callender also expressed that with the millions of dollars being directed towards colleges and universities as a result of the CARES Act, approving this funding now was premature.  Additionally, Callender noted that his vote was not out of opposition to the projects themselves but to the timing of the funding. 

“I’m trying to reign in state spending se we don’t have a massive tax increase this summer and fall,” Callender said. “Continuing to spend tens of millions of dollars repaving unused college parking lots is like fiddling while Rome burned.”

The majority of items opposed by Callender funded or supported various capitol and construction projects for colleges and universities throughout the state.

One of the approved agenda items increased the Ohio Department of Health’s appropriation authority to $8.5 million from the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020. The funding will be used to:

  • Support the efforts of the state's local health departments (LHDs) in providing services related to monitoring, investigation, containment, and mitigation;
  • Distribute throughout the state specimen collection kits for COVID-19 lab testing;
  • Make available medication to providers to combat COVID-19;
  • Support the urgent preparedness and response needs of hospitals, health systems, and health care workers on the front lines of this pandemic, including in preparing for a potential surge in COVID-19 patients; and
  • Set-aside funding for the state's Special Pathogen Treatment Center (MetroHealth Medical Center)

Additionally, the board approved a request from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to increase their appropriation authority to $81.9 million from the CARES Act. As a result of the passage of the CARES Act, these dollars will be dispersed through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to then be allocated across the state through ODOT’s Office of Transit.

“The Controlling Board met beyond our set meeting schedule to ensure this money is swiftly approved,” said Callender. “We want to promptly allocate this coronavirus relief and vital urban and rural transit funding to our communities as we continue to work through all the challenges our people and state faces from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In total, 29 items were on the agenda and more information on those can be found at https://www.ecb.ohio.gov/public/default.aspx?MSG=1&ReturnUrl=%2f.  The next meeting is currently scheduled for April 27.