Public input on public money for public projects

When Hamilton County's commissioners met Monday and discussed trying to get $10 million from the Ohio Capital Budget fund they believe is still owed from the $81 million the state promised in 1998 for the stadiums, Commissioner Todd Portune had another concern.

Portune wondered why the local request to Gov. Bob Taft for local community projects had input only from the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce, the Cincinnati mayor, the commissioners and various business groups. Today, state Rep. Tyrone Yates, D- East Walnut Hills, agreed. Yates will hold two public hearings so citizens can give input. No dates have been set.

For immediate release: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006


Yates expresses concern about Capital Budget
process



State Representative Tyrone K. Yates – the only Hamilton County Democratic House Member who serves on the powerful House Finance
& Appropriations Committee - said today he shares Hamilton
County Commissioner Todd Portune’s concerns about the way the community is coordinating requests for the forthcoming state capital budget.

Rep. Yates, D-Cincinnati, said he is now planning a pair of public hearings in Cincinnati in order to gather a wider range of opinion on what priorities
should be set for Hamilton County in the state capital budget.

The Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce has held great sway over the process of coordinating requests; Portune has said this leaves taxpayers and smaller communities shut out of the process.

“The Chamber of Commerce is an important constituency in Cincinnati. But it is by no means the only constituency,” Yates said. “I believe we need to get as much input as possible from Hamilton County citizens. That way, we will have the strongest possible list of priorities to
present to Governor Taft and the General Assembly, one that reflects the needs and wants of the entire community.”

The state capital budget is approved every two years, typically in
even-numbered years. It contains construction dollars for all state agencies and typically includes some dollars that can be spent on local community projects, such as the Great American Ball Park and the
Cincinnati Convention Center.