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Tuscarawas County gets its share of the $700 million pie the state Legislature is giving away, from a new cancer center at Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital to a burn unit at Buckeye Career Center to train first responders. Several projects are planned for this purpose.
“We are talking about an extraordinary amount of money,” said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Matt Dolan, R-Chagrin Falls. “We hope these will be transformative funds, and we believe these are the projects that will have the greatest impact.”
This is such a huge amount of money that it is colloquially referred to as a “super duper fund.”
Ohio is sitting on $700 million in cash thanks to a tsunami of federal funds due to the coronavirus pandemic. With federal money flowing into the economy, more revenue is funneled into the national treasury. The Ohio House and Senate agreed to let each chamber decide how to spend the $350 million.
The Ohio House of Representatives recently voted 75-19 on House Bill 2, which includes $7 million to build the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, $22 million to develop the Hamilton County Convention Center area, $13.75 million for the Cincinnati Open Tennis Tournament, and $12.5 million. I voted in favor. $1 million for upgrades to East Liberty’s Transportation Research Center.
However, agreement is far from reached.
Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) issued a brief statement saying House leadership has departed from the normal process of negotiating with the Senate on the huge spending bill.
Mr. Huffman signaled he was in no hurry to rush the Senate.
He said he expects both chambers to agree on a capital budget and how to use project funds by early June.
Local projects include:
- A $2.5 million investment will renovate numerous public facilities in Tuscarawas County to provide safe access to county services.
- $250,000 to renovate the Norma Johnson Center in Dover Township and promote outdoor recreation and exploration opportunities.
- $250,000 to establish a new Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital Cancer Center to ensure patients receive the most appropriate care. “We are grateful to the Ohio House of Representatives for recognizing this project as worthy of support,” said Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital President Thomas Rogers. “This project will modernize our radiation therapy equipment and help Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital continue to provide quality cancer care to Tuscarawa Valley residents.”
- $100,000 to build a burn unit at the Buckeye Career Center in New Philadelphia to train and equip first responders to serve the community and improve public safety. Superintendent Bob Alcept said the project will also be used to train Buckeye students who will participate in the career center’s new Fire and EMT course starting this fall. A groundbreaking ceremony for the facility is scheduled for later this year, and it could be ready for use in 2024. The superintendent said 15 students have already signed up for the class. Our school continues to accept applications.
- $163,098 for heating and cooling system upgrades at Kent State University-Tuscarawas in New Philadelphia.
Laura Bischoff is a reporter for USA TODAY Network’s Ohio bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. Gannett reporter John Baker contributed to this report.
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