The Appalachian Regional Commission will not be able to begin planning its budget by Oct. 1, the date the commission usually has a working budget, because of a debate about its funding.
Even though the commission is unsure of how much, if any, funding it will receive, it hopes to get its hands on about $72 million that has been approved by the Senate.
On Sept. 16, U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, announced that the potential funds, which are part of the 2004 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, passed unanimously by the Senate. The House bill, which passed in July, would give the commission only $33 million.
The legislation will now go to a conference committee to iron out differences between versions passed in each chamber, said Marcie Ridgway, Voinovich's spokeswoman.
Voinovich, a member of the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee, has served as a powerful advocate of the Appalachian region. Ridgway said Voinovich, an Ohio University alumnus, "has always considered the Appalachian region home."
"This money is an increased amount from the $4.7 million the (Ohio) ARC received last year," she said. "We hope to get even more money next year."
U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-St. Clairsville, also has told members of the House that the funds for the commission are a priority, said Brian Walsh, a Ney spokesman.
"(Ney) isn't on the actual conference committee, but there's very strong support for the ARC in the House," Walsh said.
Joy Padgett, director of the governor's office of Appalachia, said if approved, the funding would go toward the commission's mission: To be an advocate for and partner with the people of Appalachia to create opportunities for self-sustaining economic development and improved quality of life.
"It would also allow us to speed up the number of grants that we approve," Padgett said.
Ridgway said the commission used the funding last year to create more streets and highways in the Appalachian area, which in turn created more jobs. The money also went to building a diabetes center on OU's campus.
But Padgett said the funding they eventually might receive would not necessarily match the $72 million figure that is being discussed now.
The amount of funds, if any, the commission would receive is still being negotiated at this time, she said.
"The Senate versions have certainly made things hopeful, but it's not promising that we'll get more or even the same amount of money as last year," Padgett said.
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Alyssa Mitchell
