The Ohio Controlling Board approved on Aug. 18 a request from the Ohio Department of Higher Education to carry forward remaining appropriation authority tied to a contract with the Meadows Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
Michael Graham, director of legislative affairs at the Department of Higher Education, told the board the department received controlling board approval on Sept. 9, 2024, for approximately $6.5 million of appropriation authority for FY 2025 for a contract with the Meadows Center. The contract runs through June 30, 2026. "What this is seeking to do is to get approval for the remainder of that 6.5 that was already approved for FY '25 since that was not all utilized in FY '25," Graham said.
Representative Troy asked whether the department is contracted with an out‑of‑state entity for $6.5 million and whether the board's approval simply releases the remainder so obligations under the contract can be met; Graham replied "yes, that is correct, sir." The board approved the item after those clarifications.
The transcript shows no roll‑call; approval was recorded after clarification from department staff.