Senate adds $200 million to governor’s budget

From Eye on the Statehouse

Yesterday, the Ohio Senate Finance and Financial Institutions Committee released its modifications to Gov. Ted Strickland’s proposed budget. Fiscal conservatives who hoped the committee would critically examine the governor’s spending priorities will be sorely disappointed, as senators restored many of the cuts made in the Ohio House and increased the overall budget by $200 million.

The bill contains a multitude of funding increases, earmarks, and policy changes including:

• SC-1551-1 – Increases the travel and tourism grants line by $150,000 in each fiscal year to increase the Harbor Heritage Society amount to $100,000 per fiscal year and funds the Great Lakes Historical Society at $100,000 per fiscal year.

• SC-1554 - Increases and earmarks funds for the Cleveland Institute of Art

• SC-1353 - Earmarks $250,000 each year for the Amer-I-Can program

• SC-1393 - Authorizes a county with a population between 65,000 and 70,000 to increase lodging taxes by not more than 1 percent to pay for a convention center.

• SC-2449 - Establishes a new line item within the Department of Development (195-521 Discover Ohio!) to promote the state though travel and tourism. The line item receives $8 million funding in Fiscal Year 2008 and $9 million in Fiscal Year 2009.

• SC-2133 - Earmarks $10,000 per fiscal year for the Football Hall of Fame festival.

• SC-2256 - Deletes the requirement that Ohio Investment Training Program (OITP) grants be subject to Controlling Board approval.

• SC-1308 - Earkmarks $60,000 per fiscal year for the Tecumseh! outdoor drama under travel and tourism grants.

• SC-1418 - Increases the earmarks for the Western Reserve Historical Society and the Cincinnati Museum Center by $300,000 per entity per fiscal year.

Click here for the entire list and here for highlights.