Patton Announces Passage of the Capital Bill, Heads to Governor

State Rep. Tom Patton (R-Strongsville) announces Senate Bill 310 has passed out of both chambers of the General Assembly. The legislation includes the two-year state construction budget that contains funding for a variety of initiatives across the state and aid for local projects throughout the 7th Ohio House District. 

Known as the “capital bill,” these additions were accepted into Senate Bill 310 earlier this week through a House-Senate conference committee.

“We have some great local project funding coming our way and I’m thankful that our communities will reap some benefits from this bill,” said Patton. “This will help our local areas and bring growth to our jobs and economy throughout the state.”

Local projects funded within the bill include:

·         Strongsville Ehrnfelt Center $150,000;

·         North Royalton Memorial Park Amphitheater, $100,000;

·         Olmsted Falls Playground Enhancements, $75,000; and

·         Olmsted Township Brentwood Playground Development, $75,000.

Statewide, the bill commits over $2 billion in new capital appropriations for a wide variety of infrastructure across Ohio. This is in addition to more than $500 million previously approved by lawmakers for schools and local infrastructure projects. Statewide highlights include: 

•                     $452 million for the Department of Higher Education, which includes funding for traditional and regional campuses and community colleges;

•                     $300 million for K-12 school building construction and improvements;

•                     $10 million for safety grants for K-12 schools and Ohio’s colleges and universities;

•                     $280 million for the Ohio Public Works Commission, which supports a variety of infrastructure initiatives, including local water, sewer and road projects;

•                     $62.5 million for the Clean Ohio Program; and

•                     $50 million for county jail projects. Funding will be allocated through a competitive, needs-based process.

After being approved by the General Assembly, the legislation now heads to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.