• Provides significant tax relief to low-income Ohioans

The Ohio Senate has passed a two-year transportation budget of $677 million investing in the safety, maintenance and improvement of Ohio’s roads and bridges.

In addition to funding basic operations and maintenance, the Senate-passed version of the bill include $200 million for major new projects, $267 million for safety projects, and increases public transit funding to $110 million over the biennium. The bill received a bipartisan vote, with a majority of both Republicans and Democrats supporting the proposal.

The fiscally responsible budget plan in Am. Sub. House Bill 62 allows the Ohio Department of Transportation to continue its important work of maintaining and improving Ohio’s roads and bridges. In addition to funding Ohio’s infrastructure, the bill adds new accountability and transparency measures on how taxpayer dollars are spent.

“This bill makes important investments in our infrastructure,” said Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof (R-Medina).

“I am proud that the budget received a strong, bipartisan vote. We believe the bill will fund Ohio’s needs and provide wise stewardship of taxpayer dollars.”

The Senate’s version of the bill increases Ohio’s earned income tax credit from 10 to 30 percent, providing significant tax relief to low-income Ohioans.

The bill also requires the Auditor of State to complete a performance audit of the Ohio Department of Transportation by January 1, 2020 in an effort to ensure operational efficiency and taxpayer accountability.

Obhof added, “I’d like to thank the members of the Senate’s transportation committee and our staff for their hard work on a complex issue, as well as the Ohioans who shared their feedback and ideas during the deliberation of this important bill.”

Am. Sub. House Bill 62 now proceeds to the Ohio House of Representatives for concurrence. It expected to be signed into law by March 31, 2019.