By Spencer Hunt
Enquirer Columbus Bureau

COLUMBUS - Civic leaders dreaming of multi-million-dollar gifts that could help rebuild and revitalize Greater Cincinnati are about to wake up to a grim new day in the Ohio General Assembly.

Gov. Bob Taft and legislative leaders expect to disappoint scores of mayors, county commissioners, and other officials when they pass a two-year construction financing bill in December.

INFOGRAPHIC

Community wish lists

The state's $1 billion-plus capital budget always includes some money for local projects, covering everything from patching potholes to building Cincinnati's Paul Brown Stadium. However, a budget crisis has whittled down the amount of money that will be set aside for community projects.

That will put a crimp in Cincinnati's downtown revitalization program and other regional efforts that require bricks, mortar and hard hats.

A Cincinnati Enquirer analysis shows local requests filed in legislators' offices, some dating back through 2001, exceed $136 million. That will far surpass the $60 million to $90 million that may ultimately be available for community projects statewide.

"The money's just not there," said Senate President Richard Finan, R-Evendale. "Some will get some money. Some will get nothing."

That doesn't keep people from asking.

Records obtained from House and Senate legislative leaders reveal a long list of Southwest Ohio proposals competing for state tax dollars. The most expensive is a $24 million request to help pay for the new downtown stadium homes of the Bengals and the Reds. Second highest is a $20 million plea for the planned Cincinnati Convention Center expansion.

Not all proposals require a backhoe.

The American Classical Music Hall of Fame in Cincinnati asked for $75,000 to produce "200 Years of Great Music in Ohio." The series of radio programs would celebrate the history of symphonic tunes and composers in the Buckeye State during its bicentennial year.

Some are just plain and simple wishes.

The city of Fairfield's top priority is $250,000 to help build a bike path, said Tim Bachman, the municipal planning director.

But just in case, city leaders also asked for $10.3 million for a new community center, $1.5 million for a new golf course clubhouse and $100,000 to develop an "outdoor drama" tourist attraction.

"We understand the state has some funding issues," Mr. Bachman said. "If they can help, great. If not, we understand."

Lawmakers are banking on that understanding. Although the state's capital budget is not due out until the first two weeks of December, they already are telling constituents, "Don't expect too much."

"Right now, I don't want to overbill anything," said Rep. Gary Cates, R-West Chester, the No. 2 ranking House Republican. "It's going to be a lean year."

Mr. Finan agreed. "It's just not the time to ask for those big ticket items," he said.

A budget crisis that erased years of surpluses and consumed the state's rainy day funds prompted lawmakers to put off passing the capital budget for several months. So much time has passed some governments just dropped their requests.

Mason city officials who asked for $7.3 million in June 2001 to help buy the ATP tennis tournament stadium site have since made other arrangements. Mason Mayor John McCurley said he now hopes a private concern will buy the property.

Mr. McCurley still hopes his city would get some state money, perhaps for a $6 million expansion of Mason-Montgomery Road.

"I'm not sure if it's a possibility to still receive that money because we've gone ahead with the project," Mr. McCurley said. "We're the fastest growing city in the state of Ohio. Our needs are tremendous."

The budget crisis also has shrunk the pool of money available for community projects. About $50 million in general funds lawmakers pumped into the last capital budget won't be available for the next two fiscal years.

That means no money for local government buildings, county fairgrounds, industrial parks, senior centers, and private not-for-profit groups - unless they have a direct link to a state agency or program covered by bond revenues.

Such links can stretch a long way.

The Athenaeum of Ohio, which has trained Catholic priests in Cincinnati since 1829, asked for $1.5 million for new energy efficient windows because it is part of the state's library system.

"We're linked to every academic library in the state of Ohio," said the Rev. Gerald Hammerle, president of the Athenaeum.

The Athenaeum hasn't heard if it will get any money. Others have already heard they won't be getting a thing.

"We did receive word that the project will not be funded," said Stefan Skirtz, director of the American Classical Music Hall of Fame, about his proposed symphonic radio programs. "We felt we had a really great project."

Backers of Cincinnati's high-profile downtown projects say they wouldn't be surprised if they get less than what they asked for.

"I wouldn't expect the whole $20 million, in this cycle certainly," said Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune of the convention center expansion. "Our desire is to get into the system, as it were, this go-around."

A foot in the door is important. The state often pays for big ticket projects in installments, and that first payment, even a small one, is seen as a commitment by state officials.

The $24 million requested for Paul Brown Stadium and the Reds' Great American Ballpark is the last chunk of an $81 million sum state officials promised to pay years ago.

David Krings, Hamilton County administrator, said he'd like to get something "in the 20s," meaning something over $20 million. "I'm not in a position to demand anything," he added. "We'll certainly be happy with whatever we get."

That money is needed, he said, to help pay off the stadiums' debt and to maintain them. Without it, he said county officials may be forced to borrow money or delay other projects.

One such project is a parking structure that would be built near the new stadiums.

Said Mr. Krings, "We would deal with it somehow."

E-mail shunt@enquirer.com