Statehouse News Bureau

The Statehouse News Bureau provides educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations.

State Budget Proposal Recommends 90% Cut To Public Transportation Fund

By Andy Chow

Published February 12, 2021 at 9:00 PM EST

COTA bus driving through downtown Columbus [Andy Chow / Statehouse News Bureau] — COTA bus driving through downtown Columbus

The latest budget proposal from Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) includes cutting a public transportation fund by tens of millions of dollars. Public transit advocates say this puts the state headed in the wrong direction.

The budget recommends a funding line for public transportation be cut from $70 million a year down to $7 million.

Rep. Erica Crawley (D-Columbus) says cutting public transit becomes an issue of equity.

"Where other people have access to scooters, and Uber, and Lyft, that's not the case for east and southeast Columbus residents. They don't have the money and they don't have the access," says Crawley.

The funding pot in question is from the General Revenue Fund for public transportation which has a history of being lower than $10 million a year.

During the last debate over the FY20-21 budget, DeWine proposed putting the funding at $6.5 million. However, the Ohio General Assembly amended the language to boost it up to $70 million. The fund was included in cuts the state made across the board during the recession last year.

For FY18-19, former Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio) proposed the line item for public transit to stand at $7.3 million, in the end that fund was set at around $2 million.

DeWine has also proposed a $50 million project to encourage people to relocate to Ohio, this could include people who once lived in the state but have since moved. Crawley says, when young workers are looking for a place to live, effective public transportation is usually a priority.

"I think it's a complete contradiction, if you want to tell Ohio's story and attract people here then you have to have an Ohio economy and a system that will work for everyone where you can get to and from places with convenience," Crawley says.

The Ohio Department of Transportation points out other money streams that come from outside the General Revenue Fund, including federal flexible dollars. ODOT says it is working with local transit organizations to discuss the needs around the state which could result in allocating more of this federal money for public transportation.