COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns ' plans for a new domed stadium and mixed-use development in Brook Park cleared another key hurdle in the Ohio General Assembly on Tuesday.

Republican leaders in the Ohio Senate announced that in its budget proposal, $600 million will be allocated for the construction of the $3.4 billion project. Unlike with the Ohio House plan, however, the funds would not come from state-backed bonds.

Instead, state Sen. Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) announced that the Senate's plan calls for the utilization of Ohio's $3.7 billion in unclaimed funds. From that, $1.7 billion would go toward the creation of the "Sports and Culture Facilities Fund (SCF)." The Browns would be loaned $600 million in cash as a "performance grant."

Cirino said the money would be paid back

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