The Ohio Controlling Board plans to meet on April 13 at 1:30 p.m. to consider funding issues related to the COVID-19 crisis.
The Controlling Board is a mechanism for handling necessary adjustments to the state budget. The Board meets approximately every two weeks to consider and vote on requests for action that are submitted by state agencies.
The Board consists of seven members
- The Director of Budget and Management, or designee (the President of the Board)
- The Chair of the Finance and Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives
- The Chair of the Finance Committee of the Senate
- Two members of the House appointed by the Speaker of the House, one from the majority party and one from the minority party
- Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, one from the majority party and one from the minority party
The items on the upcoming agenda were determined based on the immediate Covid-19 crisis. The agenda is here.
Of special note is item #2 for the Office of Budget and Management (OBM). The CARES Act allows states to use Federal Coronavirus Relief Fund dollars for necessary expenditures incurred as a result of the pandemic that were not otherwise authorized as part of the state budget. Among the requests is one for OBM to establish appropriation authority for the Ohio Department of Health, the Adjutant General’s Department, the Department of Public Safety/Emergency Management Agency, and the Department of Administrative Services for COVID-19 expenditures anticipated for each agency responding to the pandemic through April 27, 2020. The new line items and detail by agency on the Controlling Board Agenda include:
-ADJ ($28,664,000) – acquisition, renovation, and supply costs to establish multiple temporary medical facilities across the state to supplement existing hospital capacity, pay allowance cost for approximately 600 Ohio National Guard and State Defense Force members on state active duty, personal protective equipment, vehicles and motor fuel to support personnel.
-DAS ($109,000,000) – 5,000 Axcent Medical MUSCA x2 ventilators to be distributed by the Department of Health.
-DOH ($39,000,000) – Supplies for statewide specimen collection and specimen collection kit manufacture, medications to treat COVID-19 patients contract services for external testing and temporary laboratory staffing, laboratory equipment.
-DPS ($50,000,000) – personal protective equipment including masks, gloves, gowns, shoe covers, and face shields for distribution to county EMAs, hospitals, and other medical facilities.
