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Money from fracking Ohio’s largest state park is funding a $9.6M makeover: Capitol Letter

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1 year ago

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Money from fracking Ohio’s largest state park is funding a .6M makeover: Capitol Letter


Rotunda Rumblings

Sprucing up: The biggest state park in Ohio is getting a $9.6 million makeover, funded by leases for fracking underneath it. As Jake Zuckerman reports, the Ohio Controlling Board released the funds Monday for improvements at Salt Fork State Park, some of the first purchases from the new practice of allowing for oil and gas extraction in parks and wildlife areas.

College cash: Gov. Mike DeWine wants lawmakers to allocate $100 million to the state’s public colleges and universities based on graduates’ employment success. Laura Hancock reports that this amount is only about 5% of the state’s main funding stream to schools. Critics are concerned the proposal would be a beginning of undermining the liberal arts.

Dignity of Work: Former U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown on Monday announced that he is launching a new non-partisan, non-profit organization to promote the “Dignity of Work” policies he pursued in Congress and touted on the campaign trail, Sabrina Eaton reports. Brown, who has not ruled out seeking public office again, says his new Columbus-based Dignity of Work Institute will be dedicated to the people who make the country work, to creating an economy and a society where Americans’ work is valued, and where everyone can afford a decent standard of living.

Details, please: State lawmakers, as promised, have drawn up a budget amendment spelling out how they would grant the Cleveland Browns’ request for $600 million in state-backed bonds to help build a new stadium in suburban Brook Park. Jeremy Pelzer has the details of the proposed amendment, which – among other things — would relax state limits on stadium funding to allow for the bonds but also require the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission to conclude that new tax revenues from the stadium and surrounding area would exceed the cost of paying off the bonds.

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Stand, by he: Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has a book coming out. The 2026 Republican candidate for governor listed on Amazon (a $28 hardcover) his book, “Stand: An Ohio Life,” set to release May 6. In something of a troll, he quotes praise from his gubernatorial political rival, Vivek Ramaswamy on its cover: “Dave Yost fought against the woke and for the Constitution in court—and won.” A Ramaswamy spokesperson didn’t return an inquiry about the book blurb.

New phone who dis: Vice President JD Vance was part of a group chat of top presidential officials to discuss operational details of missile strikes in Yemen, including National Security Adviser Michael Waltz; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and others. But in an apparent accident, Waltz added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor in chief of The Atlantic, who reported on the contents of the chat in detail, including an apparent philosophical split between Vance and the president.

Goodwill visit? On Thursday, Second Lady Usha Vance will travel to Greenland with her son and a United States delegation to visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend the Avannaata Qimussersu, Greenland’s national dogsled race, the office of Vice President JD Vance announced over the weekend. Greenland’s prime minister told local publications that the U.S. delegation visit is “highly aggressive,” plunging relations to a new low after President Donald Trump vowed to annex the autonomous Danish territory, CNN reports.

Art of the deal: The Vances sold their Washington, DC-area residence, pocketing a cool $172,025 over its asking price, property records obtained by The New York Post show. The deal for the Alexandria, Virginia, abode closed on March 14, with the final sale price clocking in at $1.86 million.

Playing catchup: We missed ex-U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan’s comments on MSNBC host Jen Psaki’s podcast early this month about potentially running for Ohio governor or U.S. Senate next year. The 2022 Democratic U.S. Senate nominee, who now lives in suburban Columbus and does work for natural gas and cryptocurrency groups, told Psaki he’s “entertaining everything now,” but he indicated that, between governor and Senate, he would prefer being governor so he wouldn’t have to spend so much time away from his family in Washington, D.C. On the other hand, Ryan said, he wouldn’t run for governor if Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel enters and wins the GOP gubernatorial primary race, saying the ex-football coach has been a “mentor” since he recruited Ryan to play quarterback at Youngtown State University.

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Cleaning up the books: U.S. Sen. Jon Husted plans to introduce legislation this week called the “Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Streamline the Code of Federal Regulations Act of 2025.” the Columbus-area Republican wrote in The Wall Street Journal. Citing Ohio efforts he oversaw in Ohio that used AI to spot “dead weight” in Ohio’s legislative code, Husted said his bill “would apply a similar approach federally—annually referring old, repetitive language to the agency that promulgated it so that people within the agency can decide what to cut and what to keep. This way, the federal code won’t shift with the political winds.”

What we’re watching this week

It’s still budget season, and the Ohio General Assembly is in session.

  1. The House and Senate are in for floor sessions this week
  2. A House committee scheduled a possible vote Wednesday on its version of an energy overhaul the Senate passed last week
  3. Two Republicans are introducing a bill Tuesday that would create a new criminal penalty for “harassing” a police officer
  4. The Oil and Gas Land Management Commission is set to announce any winning bids for fracking beneath Leesville Wildlife Area on Friday. (The ranking Senate Democrat, for her part, is set to introduce legislation to prohibit fracking on state lands)
  5. Other noteworthy bill hearings this week include: cryptocurrency and state pensions; a constitutional convention; intoxicating hemp; banning ranked choice voting; banning diversity, equity and inclusion in schools; banning local bans on AirBnBs; and the designation of Speaker Jo Ann Davidson Day

On the Move

Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican candidate for Ohio governor in 2026, has been endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Westlake Republican.

Ramaswamy also unveiled endorsements Monday from 15 Republican Ohio state senators, including Senate President Rob McColley of Northwest Ohio, Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Reineke of Tiffin, Majority Floor Leader Theresa Gavarone of Bowling Green, Majority Whip George Lang of Butler County. Others on the list include state Sens. Michele Reynolds of suburban Columbus, Steve Huffman of Miami County, Susan Manchester of Auglaize County, Terry Johnson of Scioto County, Shane Wilkin of Highland County, Jerry Cirino of Lake County, Andrew Brenner of Delaware County, Jane Timken of Canton, Brian Chavez of Marietta, Sandra O’Brien of Ashtabula County, and Hudson state Sen. Kristina Roegner, who is a 2026 candidate for state treasurer.

Birthdays

Andrew Geisler, assistant legal counsel, Ohio Auditor’s Office

Straight From The Source

“The truth of the matter is, literally, there’s maybe 3,000 people in this state that are paying any attention to the governor’s race right now.”

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– Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, who’s running for governor in 2026, speaking to conservative commentator Bob Frantz in a talk radio show Friday.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. Subscribe to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.



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Ohio

Thousands head to Columbus for 23rd annual Home Improvement Show at Ohio Expo Center

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9 hours ago

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March 27, 2026

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Thousands head to Columbus for 23rd annual Home Improvement Show at Ohio Expo Center


COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Thousands of people are expected to head to downtown Columbus for the 23rd annual Home Improvement Show this weekend.

Organizers say visitors can find ideas for everything from small interior design projects to major renovations.

The event is being held at the Ohio Expo Center and includes seminars, exhibits and demonstrations from local and national companies.

The show begins at noon Friday and runs until 6 p.m.

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It continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Adult tickets cost $5 at the door.



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Matt Patricia sought stability in return as Ohio State football defensive coordinator

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21 hours ago

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March 26, 2026

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Matt Patricia sought stability in return as Ohio State football defensive coordinator


Matt Patricia’s contract extension earlier this offseason included a pay raise that figures to make him the highest-paid assistant coach in college football this year.

But Patricia, who will make $3.75 million in guaranteed compensation as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator in 2026, also held an appreciation for his situation.

“Ohio State is such a special place, not only just the history, the tradition, the football program, the school, but the people here,” Patricia said. “Having a chance to have a little stability with my family, it’s hard when you have to move your family around, your kids and the new school and all that.”

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Before he joined Ryan Day’s staff last year, the 51-year-old Patricia had bounced around as an assistant in the NFL for much of the decade.

He spent 2021 and 2022 in a variety of roles with the New England Patriots, then a year as a defensive assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles. He took off from coaching in 2024. The frequent relocation gave him perspective.

“We had an unbelievable experience settling into Columbus,” Patricia said. “Everybody’s been so nice and welcoming. It feels like home. It’s a big deal for us to be in a place where everybody’s happy. That’s really important.”

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Patricia had a significant impact on the Buckeyes in his first year replacing Jim Knowles. Despite heavy roster attrition following their national championship season, he kept the defense atop the Football Bowl Subdivision. For the second straight season, no one allowed fewer points than Ohio State.

The 9.3 points per game allowed by the Buckeyes were the fewest by any defense since Alabama in 2011.

The success made Patricia a hot commodity on the coaching market, rebuilding his reputation as a sharp and creative football mind only a decade removed from his tenure as a Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator for the Patriots. He was a finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant.

Patricia said he heard about opportunities in the NFL and elsewhere across the college football landscape, though none of them would pry him away from Ohio State.

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“It wasn’t necessarily something where you’re looking to leave,” Patricia said, “but you do have to listen when those things come up. I’m just glad everything worked out.”

His challenge in his second season mirrors his previous one, as the Buckeyes are again managing the loss of eight starters on defense.

But unlike 2025, they have fewer returning pieces, relying on a larger class of transfers to help fill the holes on the depth chart.

“With as much coming into the program for the first time, not only are you trying to catch them up on the football scheme, but you’re also trying to catch them up on everything else,” Patricia said. “This is how we work, this is how we do things, this is the standard we’re looking for, this is how we practice, this is how we prepare, this is how we go to school. That has to be also taught. It becomes a lot, but that’s why you bring in the right guys that have the mental makeup to do all that.”

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow him on @joeyrkaufman on X.

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Which central Ohio schools get the best results for their money?

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1 day ago

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March 26, 2026

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Which central Ohio schools get the best results for their money?


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Which central Ohio school districts get the most bang for their buck?

On average, school districts in Ohio spend $16,069 per-pupil for education, according to the education think tank Fordham Institute.

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However, different district types spend different amounts of money. For example, large urban districts with very high poverty spend around $21,000 per-pupil, but small towns with low poverty spend around $14,900. The district type closest to the state average are those considered rural and high poverty and suburban districts with low poverty.

Aaron Churchill, lead Ohio researcher for the Fordham Institute, said that urban districts – like Columbus City Schools, the state’s largest district – often have higher spending because they can pull more in tax revenue and the state supports them at a higher rate because they are serving a higher proportion of disadvantaged students. Small, high-poverty towns on the other hand, generate less tax revenue from property values and district employee wages, the highest expense for schools, may be lowered by less market competition.

Churchill said schools should be focused on directing their funding toward initiatives that improve student outcomes and achievement.

“It’s making sure we’re focused on quality, we’re focused on performance, and that we’re rewarding performance,” Churchill said. “And we don’t do enough of that in the education system now.”

More: How do central Ohio school districts score on state metrics? See the report cards

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Churchill said there is a long-running debate among education researchers about whether increasing spending translates to meaningful results for students. Overall, school funding has increased on average over $2,000 per-pupil since 2015 and reached a record-high in 2025, according to the Fordham Institute.

“You can see in the numbers that we’re spending more than we ever have,” Churchill said. “The real million-dollar question is ‘Can our schools spend the money well?’”

Which central Ohio districts have the best results compared to funding?

The Dispatch compared overall spending per-pupil for central Ohio school districts to the ODEW’s performance index, using 2025 state data.

The Performance Index uses the performance level results for students in third grade through high school on Ohio’s state testing. The Performance Index (PI) score accounts for the level of achievement of every student, not just whether they are “proficient.” Higher performance levels receive larger weights in the calculation, but all achievement levels are included. Overall, the state average of performance scores was 91.8, according to 2025 state data.

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The central Ohio school district with the highest spending was Columbus City Schools, which spent $24,505 per pupil and received a PI score of 60.7. The district with the highest PI was Grandview Heights Schools, which received a 106 PI score and spent $21,567 per pupil. New Albany-Plain Local Schools was a close second in PI at 105.1 while spending more than $4,000 less than Grandview Heights at $16,923 per-pupil.

Here’s how central Ohio schools stack up by spending versus achievements on tests, according to the Ohio Department of Education (sorted by highest spending per-pupil):

  • Columbus City Schools – Spending per-pupil: $24,505; PI score: 60.7
  • Grandview Heights Schools – Spending per-pupil: $21,567; PI score: 106
  • Bexley City Schools – Spending per-pupil: $21,025; PI score: 102.7
  • Dublin City Schools – Spending per-pupil: $18,702; PI score: 97.6
  • Worthington City Schools – Spending per-pupil: $18.573 ; PI score: 94.3
  • Madison-Plains Local Schools – Spending per-pupil: $17,646; PI score: 88
  • New Albany-Plain Local Schools – Spending per-pupil: $16,923; PI score: 105.1
  • Westerville City Schools – Spending per-pupil: $16,815; PI score: 89.7
  • Olentangy Local Schools – Spending per-pupil: $16,780; PI score: 103.9
  • Groveport Madison Local Schools – Spending per-pupil: $16,236; PI score: 72.6
  • Upper Arlington City Schools – Spending per-pupil: $16,282; PI score: 103.6
  • Canal Winchester Local Schools – Spending per-pupil: $16.154; PI score: 89.1
  • Average Ohio school district – Spending per-pupil: $16,069; PI score: 91.8
  • Reynoldsburg City Schools – Spending per-pupil: $15,956; PI score: 72.2
  • Gahanna-Jefferson City Schools – Spending per-pupil: $15,742; PI score: 89.7
  • Hilliard City Schools – Spending per-pupil: $15,694; PI score: 90
  • South Western City Schools – Spending per-pupil: $15,600; PI score: 78.5
  • Whitehall City Schools – Spending per-pupil: $15,593; PI score: 66.95
  • Johnstown-Monroe Local Schools – Spending per-pupil: $15,163; PI score: 94.5
  • Jonathan Alder Local Schools – Spending per-pupil: $14,803; PI score: 95.9
  • Pickerington Local Schools – Spending per-pupil: $14,470 ; PI score: 90.9
  • Big Walnut Local Schools – Spending per-pupil: $14,239; PI score: 95.1
  • London City – Spending per-pupil: $13,750; PI score: 81.3
  • Marysville Exempted Village Schools – Spending per-pupil: $13,608; PI score: 95.5
  • Licking Heights Local Schools – Spending per-pupil: $13,585; PI score: 85.4
  • Hamilton Local Schools – Spending per-pupil: $12,971; PI score: 82.2
  • Bloom-Carrol Local Schools – Spending per-pupil: $12,720; PI score: 90.89
  • Licking Valley Local Schools – Spending per-pupil: $12,587; PI score: 85

Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report



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