The 2010-2011 fiscal year budget bill approved in the Ohio Senate on Wednesday includes $1.9 million in
capital funding for Bowling Green State University.
The largest amount, $1.5 million, is designated for facility improvements for the BGSU Ice Arena.
The remainder of the $1.9 million is split in two $200,000 allocations.
BGSU will use one of the appropriations to purchase water quality lab equipment to be utilized in
collaboration with the Wood County Health Department.
BGSU’s Center for Microscopy and Microanalysis will use the other $200,000 for new microscopy equipment
and enhancements of existing analytical equipment in support of regional solar and other high energy
technology-related research.
All of the $1.9 million is money reappropriated state funding.
The funds were originally earmarked for a collaborative effort between BGSU and the Wood County Health
Department. The Wood County Board of Health declined to move ahead with the project, which has been
focused to purchase lab equipment for the two to collaborate on similar program.
Both State Sen. Mark Wagoner, R-Ottawa Hills, and State Rep. Randy Gardner, R-Bowling Green, have pushed
for the reappropriation of the funds.
The money is capital funding and by law cannot be used for general fund expenses.
The overall $54 billion spending blueprint approved by a 20-11 vote in the Republican-led state Senate
Wednesday came after futile attempts by minority Democrats to reinsert the governor’s education reforms
and his calls for expanded public health insurance.
The Senate Republicans complained that Strickland’s evidence-based model for funding schools is
unworkable, too expensive and plagued with questions.
The Democrat-led Ohio House had refined and supported Strickland’s plan.
The budget bill’s next stop will be a conference committee that will seek to work out a compromise.