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

June 27, 2024

COLUMBUS - State Rep. Richard Brown (D-Canal Winchester) 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. Brown helped secure over $17M in traditional capital budget funding for Franklin County, as well as $83 million in one-time strategic funds.

“Through the capital budget and one-time funds, the communities I represent will be receiving critical and necessary improvements,” said Rep. Brown. “From our parks to our VFWs, we will be investing to ensure that District 5 is the best place to do business or raise and grow a family. While not all project requests were funded, this is a great first step to ensuring those who require assistance are helped.”

Some of the over $100M of funds will be distributed to several local entities, including:

$2.8M to O.P. Chaney Grain Elevator Restoration in Canal Winchester
$600K to Canal Winchester McGill Park
$250K to Lockbourne Memorial Wall
$200K to Brobst Park Improvements in Madison Township
$33K to VFW Roof Repairs Reynoldsburg Post 9473

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.