Gov. John R. Kasich Monday signed HB482 (Amstutz) — the capital budget bill — which allocates $1.74 billion for priority construction needs at state- and university-owned facilities — needs that had been identified by a collaborative effort led by Ohio State University President Gordon Gee.
Upon signing the bill, Kasich released the following statement:
“I’m incredibly grateful to Speaker Batchelder, President Niehaus, Chairman Amstutz and Chairman Widener for their leadership in the House and Senate. Without their strong support and their insistence on the fiscal restraint exhibited by the Legislature, we could not have succeeded in passing one of the of the leanest capital budget bills ever signed into law. This kind of leadership is what is required during challenging fiscal times like we’re in now, and together we’ve ensured that the taxpayers’ limited funds are allocated where needed most.
“When we started this process, we knew resources were extremely limited and the system in place to allocate funds was based primarily on power, not necessarily on prudence. I believed Ohio needed to change course to ensure we utilize these limited resources in a way that produces the greatest return on our investment, and I’m very pleased that my partners in the legislature embraced this new approach.”Â