This article by Jim Provance appeared in The Toledo Blade on June 11th, 2019.
COLUMBUS — The Ohio Senate on Tuesday put its first stamp on the state’s next two-year budget by calling for the investment of $172 million into the health of Lake Erie and other Ohio waterways while also maneuvering to make toothless a Lake Erie Bill of Rights approved by Toledo voters in February.
The Senate’s version of the next two-year budget also builds on the House’s across-the-board tax cuts for individuals while additionally restoring a number of tax breaks benefiting businesses. It also increases the slice of the revenue pie that automatically goes to local governments and public libraries.
A full chamber vote on the budget could come next week with a final budget due on Gov. Mike DeWine’s desk by June 30.
The state faces no financial crises this cycle and is expected to hear news later this month that the administration’s already rosy revenue numbers will be even rosier than expected.
The bill would fully fund a total of $172 million for the first two years of the new H2Ohio program aimed at investing in the long-term health of Lake Erie and other Ohio waterways. But it does not front-load the rest of the $900 million sought by Mr. DeWine for a full 10-year program.
“The governor put a $900 million price tag out there, but that was over 10 years,” said Sen. Matt Dolan (R., Chagrin Falls), finance committee chairman. “While I believe this body is fully supportive of H2Ohio … but H2Ohio is a brand new program. We want to work with the administration to roll out $170 million … to make sure it’s efficiently and effectively run.”
The Senate plan also would keep intact House language that effectively negates the Lake Erie Bill of Rights that Toledo voters approved in February. It preempts the possibility of the filing of litigation on behalf of the lake.
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