COLUMBUS — Gov. Ted Strickland and House Speaker Armond Budish, D-Beachwood, want to put a $1 billion, five-year bond proposal on the May 2010 primary ballot to renew and expand the Third Frontier high-tech program.

Not so fast, Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, said on Monday, Nov. 30.

Strickland and Budish are Democrats and Harris is a Republican, adding a background beat of politics to the Third Frontier, which was initiated by Republican Gov. Bob Taft and in the past has received bipartisan support. It is aimed at promoting high-tech research and creating jobs.

Harris’ comments came after two House Democrats, Sandra Williams of Cleveland and Jay Goyal of Mansfield, unveiled a resolution to put the proposal on the ballot at a press conference attended by business supporters.

While the program doesn’t expire until 2012, Goyal said May 2010 is the best time to go to the voters to avoid a possible interruption in funding.

No Dayton-area representatives attended the press conference but Chris Howard, vice president, entrepreneurial development for the Dayton Development Coalition, said in a statement,

“The Third Frontier is important to the future of the Dayton region and we fully support the renewal of the bond issue. The Third Frontier has been instrumental in the commercialization of advanced materials and aerospace systems that are creating jobs and opportunities for our region’s citizens.”

Voters in 2005 approved a bond issue that included $500 million for the Third Frontier. Including money from other sources, the commitment reached $1.6 billion, but some money was diverted and the total is now about $1.35 billion, officials have said. So far the program has awarded about $1 billion in grants, including about $120 million in the Dayton area, according to officials.

A report by SRI International released in September said so far the Third Frontier has created 41,300 jobs with $2.4 billion in employee wages and benefits.

Approval of the resolution requires 60 votes in the 99-member House, which Democrats control 53-46. Republicans control the Senate 21-12, but without Harris’ backing it’s doubtful the resolution will come up for a vote. Senate approval would require 20 votes.

Strickland’s approval is not needed to put it on the ballot but the governor, up for re-election next year, strongly supports it.

House Republican Leader William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) said in a statement Wednesday that Republicans need more time to review the details about the proposal.

Harris, who has supported the Third Frontier in the past, said he wants to know how much the state can afford in debt payments and how much debt voters would be willing to approve in May considering that the program has money available through 2012.

Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com.