Bipartisan Capital Funding Bill Sponsored by Senator Chavez Heads to May Primary

Brian Chavez (R-Marietta) was re-elected in November for a full four-year term. The senator’s district includes all the greater Barnesville area.    

(COLUMBUS, OH) – House Joint Resolution 8 passed the Ohio Senate which is the first step in renewing the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP). The SCIP provides grants and loans for infrastructure capital projects in local municipalities. State Senator Brian Chavez (R-Marietta) and State Senator Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) sponsored companion legislation, Senate Joint Resolution 4, which passed out of the Senate in November. The Senators are supportive of HJR 8.

“Regardless of whose name is on the final resolution, I look forward to seeing this program continue,” said Chavez. “It is important that we are providing proper funding to our local governments to support community improvements.”

HJR 8 places a constitutional amendment on Ohioans’ ballots May 6,  2025 allowing them to approve the SCIP. If approved by the voters, it will authorize a total of $2.5 billion for 10 years, for fiscal years 2027-2036.

Over the years, this funding mechanism has returned to Ohio’s communities billions of dollars for public works projects.

The most recent funding, for example, provided $75,000 for the repairs of the clay tile roof of the historic Barnesville Depot. The grant constitutes roughly 40 percent of the project’s estimated cost. We will provide more on the exciting activities related to the depot in coming weeks.