Rep. McNally Announces $5,321,666 for District 58 and Mahoning County in the State Operating Budget

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Lauren McNally (D-Youngstown) today announced District 58 and Mahoning County will receive $5,321,666 from HB 96, the state operating budget.  While the state operating budget focuses on funding state agencies and departments, it also includes legislation not related to budgets, and specific earmarks and line items for different areas around the state. These can be specific to a building or board and include multiple counties. 

“While I voted ‘no’ on the state operating budget because of how certain policies will affect the state, there are some wonderful earmarks and opportunities for our district and all of the Mahoning Valley to grow and develop. These earmarks are specific to District 58 and Mahoning County, but I am committed to finding more funding opportunities throughout my time at the Statehouse. We were able to bring over $5 million to the district with a state budget that had very little earmarks and that is something that I am very proud of,” said Rep. McNally. 

Earmarks and Budget Line Items for District 58 and Mahoning County include: 

• DEVCD59- Earmarks $133,333 in each fiscal year for Workforce Development Grants from the General Revenue Fund, to support the Ohio Oil and Gas Career Jumpstart Program at each of the following: (1) Apollo Career and Technical Center; (2) Mahoning Career and Technical Center; and (3) Washington County Career Center
• DEVCD19- Appalachia Assistance Earmarks $210,000 in each fiscal year from the General Revenue Fund to support the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments. but requires the earmark to be used to support the study and construction of oil and natural gas pipelines within Ashtabula, Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull counties.
• DASCD6 - Permits State Agency Support Services to use funds from the General Revenue Fund, to be used to provide funding for the cost of property appraisals or building studies that DAS may be required to obtain for property that is being sold by the state or under consideration to be renovated or purchased by the state. Permits the ALI to also be used to pay the operating expenses or other costs of state facilities maintained by DAS that are not billed to building tenants, or other costs associated with the Voinovich Center in Youngstown or costs of repairing vehicles donated pursuant to R.C. 125.13. Specifies that these expenses may include the costs for vacant space, space undergoing renovation, and the rent expense of tenants that are relocated because of building renovations. Allows DAS to process these payments through intrastate transfer voucher to the Building Management Fund (Fund 1320). Allows that, at least once per year, the portion of the ALI not used for the regular expenses of the ALI be processed by DAS through intrastate transfer voucher and deposited into the Building Improvement Fund (Fund 5KZ0).
• DEVCD72- $625,000 in each fiscal year for the Excellence Training Center at Youngstown State University.
• BORCD66 – Earmarks up to $2,500,000 in FY 2026 from Fund 5AH1 ALI 235688, Super RAPIDS, to be distributed to Youngstown State University for assistance with enrolling new students and taking over building operations from Eastern Gateway Community College.
• BORCD124- Youngstown State University capital project changes which will redirects a capital appropriation of $700,000 from Fund 7034 ALI
• C34591, Penguin City Brewing Company Upgrade Project, to Fund 7034 ALI C34500, Basic Renovations, both under the budget of Youngstown State University
• OMBMCD45- Redirects a $185,000 earmark in FY 2025 under Fund 5AY1 ALI 042509, One Time Strategic Community Investments, from the Sheridan Road Multi-Use Trail to the Village of Poland 

The funding from the state operating budget will be released by the Controlling Board in Fiscal Year 2026 and Fiscal Year 2027. To see all earmarks for the state operating budget, visit the Ohio Legislative Service Commission Budget Central.