Budget Bill

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Transportation Budget Heads to Conference Committee; House Finance Resumes Budget Work

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Transportation Budget Heads to Conference Committee; House Finance Resumes Budget Work

Work on the transportation budget should wrap-up by the end of this week, with main operating budget work continuing through June.

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Budget Provides Historic Investment in Brownfield Revitalization, Commercial & Industrial Demolition

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Budget Provides Historic Investment in Brownfield Revitalization, Commercial & Industrial Demolition

The budget agreement, which includes an investment of $500 million dollars in brownfield revitalization, along with commercial and industrial building demolition, represents game-changing investment for all of Ohio's 88 counties and represents a major commitment on the part of the State of Ohio to remediate this scourges of economic progress.

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State DOT and Transit Agencies have received Federal Stimulus; despite Aid, these Agencies still Need Regular Funding.

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State DOT and Transit Agencies have received Federal Stimulus; despite Aid, these Agencies still Need Regular Funding.

The COVID-19 pandemic plunged the nation into a once-in-a-lifetime recession, triggering unprecedented levels of federal spending to provide direct relief to the American people, small businesses, and local governments. The most recent federal stimulus bill passed in December included funds for various transportation sectors.

Letter to Governor DeWine Requesting Line Item Veto in House Bill 166

Letter to Governor DeWine Requesting Line Item Veto in House Bill 166

Governor DeWine:

The conference committee on House Bill 166 has elected to restore a dangerous provision in the budget (TAXCD58 on the LSC comparison document) which incentivizes urban and suburban sprawl at a time when we should instead be supporting infill and density development.

GOPC's Recommended Transportation Policies Signed Into Law

On Wednesday, April 1st, Governor Kasich signed the state transportation budget bill. This $7 billion budget bill includes two important provisions that GOPC strongly advocated for and that will help lay the foundation for a more diverse and modern transportation system in Ohio. GOPC’s successful policy provisions include:

  1. Performance metrics that allow for comparison of performance across transportation modes. The legislation directs ODOT to use these metrics to assist with statewide strategic planning processes and investment decisions (exact language can be found in Sec. 5501.08 of the transportation budget). With this new language, Ohio will be joining other states, such as Pennsylvania and North Carolina, in utilizing metrics to guide transportation investment. This provision should help public transportation compete for additional funding.
  2. Joint Legislative Task Force on Transportation Issues. Throughout the legislative process, GOPC championed the creation of a task force that would analyze transportation funding. This Task Force has a broader focus, but must report by December 31, 2016 on the funding needs and recommendations for funding transportation. There is significant bi-partisan support for this Task Force (the exact charges of the Task Force can be found in Sec. 775.40). This Task Force creates an opportunity to further explore funding options for multi-modal and public transit.

GOPC thanks the Legislature for considering these provisions and incorporating them into the final budget that went to the Governor.  Without support from key legislative champions, these provisions would not have been signed into law.

Click here to see the final transportation bill (follow the link for "Transportation and Public Safety Budget FY2016 and FY2017").

Interested in learning more?