Rep. Brennan Announces Passage of Final State Capital Budget, Securing Transformative Community Investments in Cuyahoga County
COLUMBUS - State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) announces 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. Brennan helped secure $100.4M for Cuyahoga County.
“As a humble schoolteacher, when I pressed my green button to approve the spending of over $100 million of taxpayer dollars, it made me nearly breathless. To know that this use of public treasure will improve the quality of life of all Ohioans and create many jobs makes me very proud to be the voice for the people I care about so very much,” said Rep. Brennan.
$83M in community projects and $17.5M in traditional capital funds will be distributed to several local entities, including:
- University Hospitals Parma Medical Center Breast Center – Parma: $700k
- VFW Roof Repairs Parma Post 1974: $28.6k
- Cleveland Zoo: $500k
- Cleveland Zoo Primate Forest: $2M
- Cleveland Port Bulk Terminal Modernization: $5M
- Camp Cheerful Reimagined: $175k
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.
“My dear mom succumbed to breast cancer and I have so many friends who have and continue to grapple with it. I know the great work that University Hospitals does for the Parma area and all of northeast Ohio. For these reasons, I was a fierce advocate for the large allocation of funds for UH Parma’s breast cancer center,” said Rep. Brennan.
HB 2 was signed by Governor DeWine soon after the bill passed.