The CARES Act funds can be used by local governments to cover COVID-19 related expenses. Springfield Mayor Warren Copeland told lawmakers that Springfield lost $10.7 million as a direct result of the pandemic.
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The bill also includes a plan to reappropriate $1.3 billion in state funds that had been previously promised for improvement projects.
Last week, the House and Senate were on track to take widely different approaches. Senators were considering a bill to reappropriate $1.3 billion in state capital funds while the House was debating raking back $600 million in money pledged to colleges, universities, local communities and some state agencies.
House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, said House members wanted more information on capital projects that had been stalled for one reason or another.
Senate Bill 310 was amended to include the entire $1.3 billion in funding requests. It also grants authority to Gov. Mike DeWine to institute pay freezes for state employees if needed to deal with the impending budget crisis.
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In May, Gov. Mike DeWine ordered $775 million in spending cuts to balance the current fiscal year operating budget by June 30.
More cuts are expected to be needed to adjust the next fiscal year operating budget. The DeWine administration is in talks with state employee unions about making concessions and has announced pay cuts for non-union workers.
Senate Bill 310 now returns to the Senate for consideration of the House changes.
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