BY LUCY MAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Hamilton County officials don't like to talk about what could happen to the stadium funding plan if Ohio doesn't come through with its $81 million contribution.
While the state's contribution is less than 10 percent of the project's overall $848 million cost before interest payments, it's an important part of the budget.
Belt-tightening options
When asked what the county would do if the state money didn't come through, County Administrator David Krings said officials would have to re-evaluate everything to see what the county could afford. For example, the county can get out of its tentative stadium deal with the Reds, although that's an unlikely choice. County officials would more likely re-evaluate the $108 million in the overall project budget for parking, said financial consultant Mitchell Ziets.
What about schools?
State leaders haven't been shy to admit that spending millions of state dollars on stadiums isn't politically popular. A recent federal study ranked Ohio's school buildings "worst among the 50 states."
Senate President Richard Finan, R-Evendale, warned before a May vote on a state sales tax increase for schools that if it failed, the state might not have the funds for big community projects like stadiums.
None of the tax proceeds was earmarked for such projects. But Mr. Finan warned then that without the tax increase, school needs could consume state funds otherwise dedicated for such projects. The tax increase failed, and Mr. Finan said Tuesday that the atmosphere for spending state dollars on stadiums "didn't get any easier."
County Commissioner John Dowlin characterizes the state funding for stadiums as "a real question mark."
Bedinghaus confident
But County Commissioner Bob Bedinghaus said while he understands the state has problems to work out, he expects it to come through with the money it promised.
"You're always worried until you have the money in your pocket," Mr. Bedinghaus said. "I'm confident the state of Ohio is going to live up to the commitment they made to invest in those communities that invest in themselves."
During the 1996 campaign to increase the county sales tax by a half-cent on the dollar to fund stadium construction, state officials pledged 15 percent of the construction cost.
That was later defined in state legislation as at least $81 million, and the county hasn't gotten any of it yet.
The county expects to get $15 million of that money later this summer.
But Mr. Finan said commissioners should keep in mind that lawmakers can't commit any funds beyond a two-year time frame. "That's a well-known fact," he said.
