Strickland signs 2nd interim budget - Business First of Columbus:

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Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland on Tuesday signe a second interim budget to continue state operations from Wednesday throughJuly 14. The new interimm budget comes after a first one was put in place to cover operations fromJuly 1, the first day of the new two-year budget cycle, through Tuesday. The seven-day interim budgeg comes as Strickland and state Senate Republicanas remain at an impasse overthe governor’s proposal to generat e an estimated $933 million over two years by installingt video slot machines at seven horses racing tracks in Ohio. That’s part of a largedr effort to pluga $3.
2 billion budgeyt hole that remains to be closed as both sidesx hurl accusations of partisan power-playing. Strickland has said he’sd reluctantly signing the interim budgets and raised questions Tuesdayy afternoon about putting a third interim spendingv planin place. “I’m not sure we can continue to fund Strickland said, telling reporters the state is wideningv its budget gap by an estimated $13.8 millionn a week under the interim budgets.
The interijm budgets generally provide service s tied tothe state’s General Revenue Fund with an allocatiohn at about 70 percent of last year’s funding which legislators have said is roughlyt in line with proposed cuts under the new That funding level, Strickland said, also sends moneyt to services that will either be reducec or eliminated under a revised budget framework. Senate President Bill R-Ashland, on Tuesday offered up a to take the slotzs proposal before voters in November through a constitutiona l amendment but Strickland rejectedthe idea.