COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Senate has officially passed Senate Bill 450, a massive $3.7 billion statewide Capital Budget bill that includes more than $6.8 million earmarked specifically for community projects across Ohio’s 20th Senate District.
State Senator Tim Schaffer (R-Lancaster) announced the legislative milestone today, emphasizing the direct economic and structural impact the funding will have on local communities.
“Investing into our communities is paramount to keeping Ohio competitive for years to come,” Schaffer said. “These investments add more than $6.8 million into our local economies and ensures that the projects our communities care about receive the funding they need.”
A total of $6,822,000 has been directed to the 20th District, distributed across 28 distinct community, educational, and recreational projects in Fairfield, Licking, and Perry counties.
Local Project Funding Breakdown
Fairfield County
- Fairfield County Radiology Lab: $750,000
- Robert Fox YMCA Recreation Improvements: $325,000
- Lancaster Fairfield County Fairgrounds: $300,000
- Ohio University Lancaster Wagner Theatre: $300,000
- Lancaster Rising Park: $275,000
- Bremen Skate Park: $250,000
- Pickerington Connects: $200,000
- Pickerington Covered Bridge: $200,000
- Lancaster Festival Upgrades: $200,000
- Millersport Lions Park Improvements: $175,000
- Pickerington Sycamore Creek Park: $100,000
- Wagnalls Memorial Arts & Culture Improvements: $100,000
- Fairfield County Respiratory Therapy Lab: $91,000
- Ohio Glass Museum Improvements: $76,000
- Lancaster Greenhouse Renovations: $50,000
Licking County
- Buckeye Lake North Shore Park: $1,000,000
- Lou and Gib Reese Ice Arena Improvements: $650,000
- C-TEC Skilled Trades Workforce Lab: $500,000
- Newark Electrical JATC Regional Training Center Expansion: $230,000
- Pataskala Foundation Park Soccer Fields: $150,000
- Newark Midland Theatre Upgrades: $100,000
Perry County
- Village of Somerset Improvements: $200,000
- Glenford Shelly Park Improvements: $75,000
The Big Picture: Ohio’s State Investments
The Ohio Legislature generally votes on and passes a Capital Budget every two years. This critical bill funds long-term improvements to public facilities and infrastructure, including local schools, public parks, higher education institutions, and mental health and addiction resources.
Beyond localized district funding, Senate Bill 450 allocates major state agency investments, including:
- $645 Million for the Public Works Commission
- $611 Million for the School Facilities Commission
- $425 Million for Higher Education Institutions
- $385 Million for the Department of Behavioral Health
- $265 Million for the Department of Natural Resources
Following its successful passage in the Senate, Senate Bill 450 now heads to the Ohio House of Representatives for further consideration and debate before moving to the Governor’s desk.
