Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Mike Dewine Governor is trying to dismiss the legislators’ plans to give $ 600 million to Cleveland Browns by issuing obligations for the construction of their new stadium. In a project to change the state budget, the team that won only three games last season would be given millions of dollars from taxpayers.
Browns are one more step to obtain their new stadium construction project of $ 2.4 billion in the goals area.
“To six hundred million, it is money that would be made available to people who build this thing, then the beneficiaries of the bonds would be reimbursed over 30 years,” said Chamber Matt Huffman.
In a proposal indicated by the first Statehouse news office And obtained by us, an 18 -page amendment would provide money to the Haslam sports group.
To authorize this, the Republicans also propose a modification of the law of the State to allow the legislators to give more money to pro-sports projects.
To help convince the legislators that they are serious, the Browns offered $ 38 million in advance in the state guarantee.
“There are enough budget impacts or direct tax revenue to support the investment we ask for,” said Browns lawyer Ted Tywang during his argument in early March.
Wews business growth and development journalist Michelle Jarboe, and I made a team coverage of the Browns Stadium proposal. Click hereTo find out more about what the New Stadium District would include.
But the governor tries to block the budget amendment. He doubles his plan to solve both problems. It would increase the sports betting tax for sportsbooks, creating a fund for all professional sports teams to obtain money in the future.
“This will allow us to support professional teams, minor leagues, major leagues,” said Dewine. “But at the same time, do not withdraw money from education.”
Huffman threatened to reduce at least $ 650 million in public education spending, saying that the State does not have the budget for this and the millions that schools think that this general meeting has been “unbearable”.
For a new in -depth summary of education financing, Click here.
I asked him to give 600 million dollars to a private sports team belonging to a multi -loving compared to fully funded schools.
Ohio can spend $ 600 million to finance the Browns stadium, but calls “unsustainable” public education expenses
Because Huffman was compulsory the first time I asked the question, the next time I saw it, I asked again.
“Well, I don’t think there are $ 600 million for a stadium, but if what you ask me is if you try to compare these two things, they are not comparable,” said Huffman.
I asked for clarification of his team after Huffman said that there were not $ 600 million at the moment. They explained that he meant that the state would borrow the millions. It is true, but the state should always reimburse this money – with interest.
Dewine said they are directly comparable – and is worried that more requests can arrive soon. The Bengals of Cincinnati work on a Dollars of $ 1.25 billion As their lease expires next year.
“We cannot really allow ourselves to continue putting money in sports stadiums from a general fund,” said Dewine on Monday. “There is not enough money there.”
He stressed the fact that the state would withdraw money from education, children and mental health services.
I asked if we were to give taxpayers to billionaires. The governor said that by virtue of GOP and Democratic leadership, Ohio has always contributed money to professional sports.
“I guess it will continue,” he said. “The question is: do you take this to taxpayers or do you take it from people who direct the game operations in the state of Ohio?
Regarding the financial impact that it would start, he stressed that at the end of this process would be “about a billion dollars in taxes directly outside the general fund”.
Friday, I asked Dewine if he opposed her veto at the disposal if she made her way in the budget.
“Well, I hope they will not do that,” replied the governor.
Legislators are expected to debate the plan in the coming weeks.
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