Governor stands by project postponement

By Marc Kovac

The governor thinks $240 million in public works projects is enough.

COLUMBUS — Despite continued criticism from Republicans, Gov. Ted Strickland isn’t backing down from postponing $200 million in state public works projects.

The funds were part of the $1.57 billion job stimulus package that lawmakers finalized last year, with targeted funding for logistics and distribution improvements, bioproducts and biomedical ventures, advanced and renewable energy, historic preservation and higher education work force programs.

Strickland line-item vetoed one section of the stimulus bill, related to the date when $200 million in funds would be transferred from the state’s rainy-day fund for planned public works projects.

Those funds were to be moved in early July, but Strickland’s veto effectively pushed the transfer back a year. The governor said at the time that he would seek alternative funding sources for the costs, rather than the rainy-day fund.

Republicans have repeatedly called for those funds to be transferred now, saying the projects will boost job opportunities and help spur the economy.

But Strickland said the state already has increased its funding of public works projects, to $240 million in the current fiscal year from about $120 million. And he said the other $200 million will be available come July.

“We are spending money for infrastructure projects right now,” he said. “And I am committed to making sure in the next fiscal year we will have that $200 million to do these job creation activities with.”

He added, “Going from $120 million to about $240 million in one fiscal year, I think, is a very meaningful and significant addition ... and we will spend more in the next fiscal year, and those efforts I think are reasonable and will create jobs while improving the infrastructure.”