COLUMBUS, Ohio — Unclaimed funds held by the state of Ohio will soon begin flowing toward construction of a new Cleveland Browns stadium after a federal judge ruled the transfer can move forward starting January 1.
U.S. District Judge Edmund Sargus, a Belmont County native, issued the decision Tuesday, allowing the state to proceed with its plan while a lawsuit challenging the funding mechanism continues. The ruling declines to block the transfers but does not end the legal challenge.
Ohio’s budget created a new account, the Ohio Cultural and Sports Facility Performance Grant Fund, which can receive up to $1.9 billion in unclaimed funds — money from dormant bank accounts, uncashed checks, and other abandoned financial assets. Of that amount, $600 million is designated for the Browns’ proposed stadium project in Brook Park.
Supporters say the plan avoids raising taxes while helping finance a major sports and entertainment development. Opponents, including former lawmakers who filed the lawsuit, argue the state is improperly diverting money that still belongs to Ohioans who simply haven’t claimed it.
Despite those concerns, Tuesday’s ruling means the first transfers may begin at the start of the new year. The broader lawsuit over the constitutionality of the funding plan remains ongoing.
