Rep. Whitted Announces Passage of Final State Capital Budget, Securing Transformative Community Investments in Hamilton County

June 26, 2024

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Jodi Whitted (D-Madeira) today announced the passage of House Bill (HB) 2, the state's biennial state capital budget, in both the Ohio House of Representatives & Senate. The record-setting $6.2B investment makes appropriations for state-owned infrastructure, colleges, universities, and school districts as well as other community projects.

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 state funds were able to be 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.

Rep. Whitted helped secure $100M for Hamilton County.

“I am very thankful for the hard work and preparation that former representative and Hamilton County Auditor Miranda put into the capital budget. This was an immense help in my transition to the Ohio House. I am honored to vote ‘yes’ on a bill that will give life to so many great projects across District 28, Hamilton County, and all of Ohio. I think it is so important for state resources to help local governments and local projects that impact our communities,” said Rep. Whitted.

$1.32M of funds will be distributed to several District 28 projects, including:

$620K to the Summit Park Maintenance Facility (Blue Ash)
$300K to the Scout Achievement Center (Evendale)
$180K to the Chamberlin Park Re-Development (Deer Park)
$150K to the Sycamore Twp Veterans Memorial (Sycamore Twp)
$70K to the Dawson Promenade Connector (Madeira)

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.
$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.