Ohio Could Spend $3.5 Million On Animal Facility

The state of Ohio wants to spend $3.5 million to build and operate a Department of Agriculture facility that would temporarily house exotic animals confiscated under a new law. The state Controlling Board, which handles certain adjustments to the state budget, will have to approve the Department of Agriculture's request for the money in a meeting Sept. 10. The amount was reported Friday in a meeting agenda released by the Ohio Office of Budget and Management. The request includes $2.93 million for construction of the facility, which will be built on the agriculture department's campus in a rural area east of Columbus. The move comes as the state prepares to crack down on owners of exotic animals.