COLUMBUS — Ohio's economic woes might indirectly delay the state's primary elections and create a smaller-than-expected state construction budget next year, Senate President Richard Finan, R-Evendale, said Wednesday.

        Lawmakers must create a new political map that whittles Ohio's 19 Congressional districts to 18. They also are expected to pass a bill that would spend well over $1 billion on construction projects across the state.

        Work on both issues was delayed as lawmakers struggled to eliminate a $1.5 billion hole in the state's $4.9 billion, two-year budget created when Ohio's economic fortunes turned sour.

        With the filing deadline for primary elections Feb. 21, Mr. Finan predicted trouble finishing redistricting on time.

        “This is a timing issue. We spent so much time in December on the deficit that we didn't have any time to even talk or meet or do things,” Mr. Finan said. “It wasn't our priority. Our priority was to get done with the budget.”

        The General Assembly pushed the 1992 primary back to June after lawmakers faced a similar time crunch.

        Ohio's stalled economy also will delay the state's capital projects bill a few months. Mr. Finan said local governments and other groups looking for state construction funds might not find as much as they were hoping for.

        “We obviously reduced the general fund (in balancing the budget) so that obviously means you're going to have less money available in the capital budget,” Mr. Finan said.

        The problem could be finding the money to expand upon last year's $1.7 billion in construction spending.

        “It wouldn't surprise me if this is the leanest capital budget in the past 10 years,” said Don Berno, president of the Ohio Public Expenditures Council, a bipartisan group monitoring government spending.

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