Ohio Public Works Commission Overview

The Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) was created initially in 1987 to administer the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) which was soon joined by the Local Transportation Improvement Program (LTIP). These programs, which run concurrently, are solicited, scored and selected by the 19 District Integrating Committees according to each district’s schedule. In 2000, the OPWC became responsible for the administration of the Clean Ohio Conservation Green Space Program in which applications are solicited, scored, and selected by the 19 Natural Resources Assistance Councils (NRACs).

The OPWC staff is accountable to the legislatively appointed twelve-member Commission who provides oversight to the director and adopts the bylaws governing the conduct of OPWC’s business. The Commission’s staff works with the district committees to ensure that the programs are administered in a fair and objective manner. On a daily basis staff maintain ongoing contact with local communities, providing technical assistance through each project's completion.

It is OPWC’s mission to deliver its statutory programs with the greatest efficiency and highest customer satisfaction while maintaining a high level of transparency and accountability to Ohio’s taxpayers.

Visit here to find out about all the programs that OPWC offers.

Ohio Revised Code Section 164 - Aid to Local Government Improvements 

Administrative Code Section 164-1 - General Provisions 

OPWC Funding

The Ohio Public Works Commission relies on various budget bills to fund and operate its programs due to its various types of funding sources. Operating budgets are enacted in each odd-numbered year. The main operating budget is the primary funding vehicle for the three branches of state government, executive (state agencies, boards, commissions), legislative (Ohio General Assembly), and judicial (Ohio Supreme Court), making operating appropriations for state programs. The transportation budget bill makes appropriations related to transportation and public safety, programs funded by motor fuel excise taxes (“gas tax”).

The capital budget, enacted in each even-number year, provides appropriations for the repair, reconstruction and construction of capital assets, most of which are supported by the issuance of long-term debt. Since the Ohio Constitution limits the length of appropriations to no more than two years and capital projects can take more than two years to complete, appropriation balances must be extended or reappropriated to remain in effect to allow time to bring projects to completion.

The table below shows how OPWC’s programs are typically funded with bill numbers for the most recently enacted legislation. Note that the state’s fiscal year (FY) is from July 1^st to June 30^th.