Budget time in Ohio could spell a setback in revenue for Ohio State Parks and Watercraft unless the General Assembly’s conference committee or Gov. Mike DeWine take action against it.
In the Senate-approved version of the budget bill (HB96), general fund money that would ordinarily go to the park system was cut – at least for the next two years. The Ohio Senate wants $30 million in royalty bonus payments from oil and gas drilling in state parks to make up the resulting shortfall. Thus far, the state has received only bonus money from drilling companies.
