CLEVELAND (WJW) – Governor Mike DeWine is expected to sign a two-year state operating budget and issue any line-item vetoes sometime on Monday.
The governor received the 5,500-page budget Friday evening and has been reviewing it.
The budget includes a $600 million grant to the Cleveland Browns for a new enclosed stadium in Brook Park. It also includes language to modify the Modell Law. The Modell currently restricts sports team from moving, but lawmakers changed the language allowing a team to move as long as they relocate in Ohio.
Recently, the governor told the I-Team he supports a some project. The big question, however, would he support a plan by state lawmakers to give the Browns money from the Unclaimed Funds account? The Unclaimed Funds account is money that citizens may have left in old bank accounts.
The Cuyahoga County executive is against giving the Browns any county money to leave downtown. Some county councilmembers, however, said they would like to learn more about the proposal since it appears it will be built in Brook Park.
“Let’s be honest, everybody’s going to generate money from this,” said Brook Park Mayor Ed Orcutt.
Orcutt and the Browns predict the dome will bring in money and jobs. The Browns said any public money they receive for the project will be paid back with profits from the project.
