Latest news with #GeorgeLang
Toronto Star
26-06-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Ohio budget bill with Browns stadium funding, LGBTQ+ restrictions heads to Gov. Mike DeWine
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The two-year, $60 billion operating budget sent to Republican Gov. Mike DeWine calls for flattening Ohio's income tax and setting aside $600 million in unclaimed funds for a new Cleveland Browns stadium, among hundreds of spending decisions. He has until Monday to sign it and issue any line-item vetoes. State Sen. George Lang described the massive spending blueprint as 'a budget of abundance,' as he and other members of the GOP supermajority touted its $1 billion in income tax relief, pathways to address Ohio's property tax crisis and how — like the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency initiative — it trims spending at administrative agencies and curtails regulations.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
No direct money for Paycor Stadium in Senate budget, but two potential funding avenues
There is no money specifically for Paycor Stadium renovations in the Ohio Senate version of the state budget, though the budget did include some potential avenues for funding. The Bengals and Hamilton County requested $350 million in the state budget for stadium renovations, which are estimated to cost $830 million in total. Ohio senators announced their version of the state budget on June 3. Like the House budget, it did not include specific funding for the Bengals' stadium renovations, but it did lay out a system for grants for major sports facilities, with the first $600 million grant going to a new stadium for the Cleveland Browns in Brook Park. Money for the grants would come from Ohioan's unclaimed funds. Sen. George Lang, a Butler County Republican, estimates $1.7 billion of those funds have been left unclaimed for so long they're considered abandoned. It's not clear whether the Bengals or Hamilton County could apply for a grant through the new system. The budget language specifically refers to the stadium project in Cleveland. "I hope we can help the Bengals and FC Cincinnati. Whatever we do for one – we treat everybody on a fair basis," Lang said. Sen. Bill Blessing, a Hamilton County Republican, said he is disappointed that the budget did not include a more comprehensive solution to stadium funding, but that the unclaimed funds idea could mean better protection for taxpayers. "Though not sold on the overall idea, at least we're moving in a better direction," he said. The Senate budget also includes language to allow Hamilton County to levy a cigarette tax to benefit a regional arts and culture district. Ohio law already allows the county to create a regional arts and culture district. Blessing said he thinks the cigarette tax could be used not only to fund area museums but also for stadiums. He said it would help take pressure off the county sales tax and property taxes. At least two of the three Hamilton County commissioners would need to vote to put the tax on the ballot and then it would need approval from Hamilton County voters. Hamilton County Commission President Denise Driehaus said she is watching the budget process with great interest to see if the state will make a financial contribution to the Paycor Stadium renovations. Driehaus has said she would like to see one-third of the funding from the county, one-third from the team and one-third from the state. The June 3 version of the Senate's budget is not the final version. Once the Senate approves its version, a conference committee composed of House and Senate members will examine both budget proposals and create a final version that both chambers will need to approve before Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine can sign it. DeWine must sign the budget by June 30, which is the same deadline the Bengals have to let the county know if they plan to extend their current lease. Regional politics reporter Erin Glynn can be reached at eglynn@ @ee_glynn on X or @eringlynn on Bluesky. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Senate budget: No Paycor Stadium money, but potential cigarette tax
