More projects approved using one-time ‘super’ fund

As part of this year’s biannual capital budget process, state lawmakers agreed to a one-time spend of over $700 million to fund a wide array of additional capital projects across Ohio.

According to multiple media reports, lawmakers are calling this one-time spend the “Super Duper Fund,” which referred to a $717.8 million spike in state tax revenues after federal COVID-19 relief money flowed into Ohio.
The Super Duper Fund is considered part of the overall $4.2 billion capital budget, the largest capital budget in state history.
The House and Senate decided to split the $717 million in half. This way, all lawmakers from each chamber could allocate some funds to community projects in their districts.
Speaking at the media event where Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed the budget, Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) explained how the Super Duper Fund will help local communities fund projects that otherwise would not receive support.
“It makes everyone a part of this historic budget,” Stephens said. “It will promote tourism, enhance the workforce and community wellness and continue to grow a sense of hometown pride with all communities in Ohio.
While some of the projects will help from an economic development standpoint, others will help keep the community safe.
The Columbiana County Annex/Drug Task Force Building will receive $2.9 million to help build a new facility, for example.
“Their current building is about the size of this room and about 50 years old,” Stephens said.
He also highlighted one of the 49 projects that received less than $50,000 in funding but will still make a significant safety impact in the community – roughly $34,000 for an outdoor warning siren in Wilkesville Township.
Stephens went on to discuss several well-known venues that received funding because they are well-known tourist attractions.
He cited the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, home to the Western and Southern Open, a professional tennis tournament, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Each of the projects, he noted, help Ohio’s tourism community and benefit the local communities where they are located.
 The Rock Hall expansion project has already begun, and work is being performed under a Project Labor Agreement by affiliated members of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council.
 Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) also expressed positivity about the way the one-time fund will be used.
“We had a tremendous response from our communities with the millions of dollars budgeted from the strategic fund,” he said in a prepared statement.
 In total, 656 projects received funding from the Super Duper Fund, with the average project receiving just over $1 million. Project funding ranged from $46 million for a large economic development in Cincinnati to $4,000 for a playground in Chardon.
 “The state legislatures made a lot of people happy,” said Mike Knisley, Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council Secretary-Treasurer. “For the most part, it looks like whichever entities needed funding and went through the process were rewarded.
 
Knisley expects many of the projects that received funds will create jobs for affiliated members of Ohio’s building trades.
  Similar to projects receiving funding from the state’s regular capital budget, Knisley said the state building trades will compile and share a list of projects in each regional building trades jurisdiction. It will be up to the individual councils to follow up on these projects to make sure the contractors are paying the Prevailing Wage.
  He did note that some of the community projects are small and will fall below the Prevailing Wage threshold of $75,000 for building renovation projects and $250,000 for new building construction.
  Super Duper Spending
 The following list of projects received at least $3.5 million in funding from the one-time “Super Duper Fund” as part of the biannual Ohio capital budget. In total, 656 projects received funding, with the average project receiving just over $1 million.
 •    Hamilton County Convention Center District Development - $46 million
•    Cincinnati Open Tennis Tournament - $27.5 million
•    Transportation Research Center, Inc. Impact Lab Upgrades (Union County) - $24 million
•    Cuyahoga County Northcoast Connector - $20 million
•    The Ohio Center for Advanced Technologies - $20 million
•    Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Music for All - $18.5 million
•    University of Cincinnati Health - $16.75 million
•    Cedarville Opera House - $12 million
•    Downtown Columbus Capital Line - $10 million
•    Lima Veterans Memorial Hall Improvements - $10 million
•    Hall of Fame Village - $9.76 million
•    Xavier University College of Osteopathic Medicine - $9.75 million
•    Millikin Interchange Improvements (Bulter County) - $8.5 million
•    Buckeye Lake North Shore Park and Pier - $8.5 million
•    Heritage Trail Expansion - $8 million
•    Bedrock Riverfront Development - $8 million
•    Riverbend 2.0 - $8 million
•    John Glenn International Airport Improvements - $7.5 million
•    Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum Expansion and Renovation - $7 million
•    Pro Football Hall of Fame Modernization - $7 million
•    Cleveland Port Bulk Terminal Modernization - $5 million
•    Wayne National Forest Welcome Center - $5 million
•    Indian Lake Advocacy Group - $5 million
•    Hopewell Regional Visitor Center - $5 million
•    Shawnee State University College of Health and Human Services - $5 million
•    Cascade Plaza (Summit County) - $5 million
•    Champion City Sports and Wellness Center - $4 million
•    New Franklin Sewer Project (Summit County) - $3.8 million
•    Flats River Development - $3.5 million
•    Wilmington Runway Reopening and Improvements - $3.5 million