$2.4 billion Construction Budget Clears Ohio House

The Ohio House has passed a nearly $2.4 billion state construction budget that funds a host of community, school, park and prison projects. It now goes to the Senate, where a committee started hearings on Wednesday. The proposal directs $675 million toward primary and secondary schools and $450 million toward public colleges and universities for repairs, renovations and new buildings. Another $574 million goes for maintenance, renovation and cost-saving projects at state-owned facilities, including parks and prisons. Local road, bridge, sewer and other infrastructure projects would get $369 million. An additional $100 million goes to the Clean Ohio green space preservation program. Gov. John Kasich's administration estimates that projects funded under the bill would create 31,000 jobs over several years.