This year, one of the biggest fights is over how to pay for a new Cleveland Browns stadium and whether to raise taxes on sports betting. Below, we explain the main ideas and what each side wants.
Sports Betting and Stadium Funding
Governor Mike DeWine’s budget plan asks to double the tax on Ohio sports betting from 20% to 40%. He says that extra money could help pay for new pro sports stadiums and support youth sports programs across Ohio.
Under this idea, sports fans would still place their bets through sportsbooks or online betting apps in Ohio, but more of that money would flow back into public projects.
Ohio House Republicans took a different path. In their version of the budget, they approved a $600 million bond issue to help build a new Browns stadium in Brook Park. Bonds are like loans: the state borrows money now and pays it back with interest over many years.
Critics worry that Ohio taxpayers will be “on the hook” for the cost long after the stadium is built.
Some city and county officials — from Cleveland to Cincinnati — object. Hamilton County, home of the Bengals, is asking for $350 million to renovate Paycor Stadium when its lease runs out in 2026. They worry that giving $600 million to the Browns would leave less state money for them. Meanwhile, Cleveland city leaders fear losing their team to the suburbs.
They point to a state law named after former owner Art Modell that could block any move away from the lakeside site.
Senate Democrats’ Alternative Proposals
Ohio Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio, offered 423 amendments to the budget. They want to remove the $600 million bond for the Browns stadium and fully fund Ohio’s public schools instead. Here are some of their ideas:
- Restore H2Ohio water projects ($121 million) to protect drinking water and fund conservation.
- Increase library funding by raising state aid to 2.2%, adding $382 million for books and community programs.
- Expand Medicaid enrollment continuously for $40 million, so more low-income families get health care without gaps.
- Fund child cancer research with $5 million in grants for local hospitals and universities.
- Boost food bank support by $10 million to fight hunger in every county.
- Child tax credit of $1,000 per child, as the governor first proposed, to help working families.
Taken together, these changes would total about $558 million — nearly the same as the stadium bonds. The Democrats also suggested feeding all Ohio school children for $574 million and adding $20 million for student mental health services.
For long-term support, they proposed fully funding the Fair School Funding Plan, which would cost roughly $790 million more this year to meet 2021 goals.
Senator Antonio said these choices reflect real needs across Ohio, not just one city or one sports team.
“If I were queen of the world,”
she joked,
“all these things would be part of our general fund budget,”
she said. Her point: schools, health care, libraries, and food programs directly affect everyday families.
What Happens Next?
With Republicans holding a 24-9 supermajority in the Senate, most Democratic amendments lack the votes to pass. But their effort shines a spotlight on the trade-offs in the budget: sports betting taxes, stadium bonds, and public services all compete for the same pot of state dollars.
By June 30, Governor DeWine must sign the final budget into law. Whether Ohio doubles its sports betting tax, bonds for a new Browns stadium, or shifts money to schools and social programs — the choice will affect Ohioans for years to come.
