COLUMBUS, Ohio — A federal judge who began his judicial career in Belmont County is set to determine whether Ohio’s plan to steer unclaimed funds toward construction of a new Cleveland Browns stadium is constitutional.
U.S. District Court Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. is expected to issue a ruling as soon as today on the legality of using money from the state’s unclaimed funds program to help finance the project. The issue has drawn statewide attention, with critics questioning whether the funds — typically reserved for returning lost or forgotten money to rightful owners — can legally be redirected to stadium development.
Judge Sargus, who previously served on the bench in Belmont County before his appointment to the federal judiciary, now holds the responsibility of deciding whether the state’s funding strategy complies with constitutional requirements.
A decision could clarify how far Ohio lawmakers may go in using alternative revenue streams to support major economic development or sports-related projects.
