Latest news with #OhioPublicWorksCommission
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio voters approve Issue 2, allowing state to borrow $2.5B for infrastructure
May 6—Ohio voters approved a state constitutional amendment Tuesday to allow the state to issue up to $2.5 billion in bonds for infrastructure improvements. The Associated Press declared Issue 2 victorious before 9 p.m. Tuesday. As of 8:48 p.m. the measure was passing with 67.5% of the vote and over 30% of statewide precincts reporting, according to the Ohio Secretary of State's office. "Ohioans understand that our local roads and bridges and other basic infrastructure need ongoing improvement," said Sam Rossi, spokesman for pro-Issue 2 campaign the Strong Ohio Communities Coalition. "Our campaign was bolstered by strong bipartisan support from Ohio's elected lawmakers and a broad nonpartisan coalition that included leaders on behalf of business, labor, agriculture, transportation, public safety and local governments. There was no formal opposition to Issue 2. Issue 2 is a request from the state in the form of a constitutional amendment to issue up to $2.5 billion in bonds to help pay for local infrastructure projects over the next decade. Approval on May 6 would amend the Ohio Constitution, as the state generally needs constitutional approval in order to go into large amounts of debt. The bonds, if approved by a simple majority of voters, would go toward the State Capital Improvement Program and could only be used on roads, bridges, water treatment and supply systems and solid waste disposal facilities, according to the legislature's nonpartisan analysis. The state first issued a lump sum of general obligation bonds to fund SCIP in 1987. The approach has been approved by voters thrice since. The pending approval would be the biggest in state history, which lawmakers said was necessary due to inflation driving up the cost of projects. According to Ohio Public Works Commission Director Linda Bailiff, this bond approach has proven to be a successful, responsive way for local governments to make headway on infrastructure projects. "About 18,860 projects have been funded since the program's inception," Bailiff told lawmakers late last year. "Depending on the year, for every $1 of program funds another $2 to $3 is leveraged in other local, state, and federal sources." The state government has gone back to voters three times for permission to issue more general obligation bonds, most recently in 2014, says information from the League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland. Supporters say the state capital improvements program does not increase taxes, generally has bipartisan approval and reduces pressure on local jurisdictions to raise taxes for infrastructure improvements. The AP says that under the measure, up to $250 million of the total general obligation bonds authorized can be issued each year over 10 years, creating an estimated 35,000 construction jobs.
Toronto Star
07-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Ohio voters approve ballot issue authorizing $2.5 billion in bonds over 10 years for infrastructure
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio voters agreed to reauthorize a program on Tuesday that will provide $2.5 billion for roads, bridges and other needed local infrastructure projects over the next decade. State Issue 2 called for the renewal of the Ohio Capital Improvement Program, which was first authorized in 1987. Administered by the Ohio Public Works Commission, it relies on existing state revenues as opposed to raising taxes.
Axios
06-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Ohio's $2.5 billion infrastructure plan goes to voters Tuesday
It's primary Election Day, and for many local voters there's only one item on the ballot: State Issue 2. Why it matters: If OK'd by voters, it would authorize the state to allocate $2.5 billion over 10 years to fund public infrastructure projects to improve bridges, roads, sewers and water lines. In case you missed our recent explainer, the State Capital Improvement Program dates back to 1987, and it's been renewed at the ballot box about every 10 years. How it works: The program is funded with bonds, meaning your property tax bill won't change whether it passes or fails. The program currently disburses up to $200 million annually. A successful Issue 2 would up the yearly amount to $250 million. Local governments first request grants. A committee of local officials sends approved projects to the Ohio Public Works Commission, which administers the program. Zoom in: The State Capital Improvement Program has supported nearly 4,500 projects over the past decade in every county. Cleveland projects have included the design and rehabilitation of a number of major streets — Carnegie and Payne downtown, West 65th Street and Fulton Road on the west side, and East 79th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive on the east. By the numbers: There's no "Issue 1" this year and won't be for many years to come. The statewide ballot numbering system previously reset every year, but now will be numbered sequentially through 500 before returning to 1 to avoid confusion. ✏️ Voters in Bay Village and Parma will also be deciding on school levies Tuesday.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What issues will Summit County voters decide at the polls on May 6?
On May 6, Summit County voters will go to the polls to decide on an array of issues. From school levies to library funding, and even a state constitutional amendment, county residents will have no shortage of decisions to make. Early voting is underway, and will continue to until May 4. Here's an overview of key issues to be decided. For a full list of the issues appearing on ballots, click here, or visit the Summit County Board of Elections website here: and click on "60 Day Issue Synopsis." Issue 2 asks voters statewide to renew a constitutional amendment, first passed in 1987, that funds critical infrastructure improvements in local communities through the State Capital Improvements Program (SCIP). If approved, Issue 2 will authorize the state legislature to issue a maximum of $2.5 billion in general obligation funds over 10 years, capping the total allowable issuance at $250 million per fiscal year. The measure won't enable looting the public's coffers to pay for a new Browns stadium. The text of the ballot issue states, "Capital improvement projects would be limited to roads and bridges, waste water treatment systems, water supply systems, solid waste disposal systems, storm water and sanitary collection, storage, and treatment facilities." According to a fact sheet from the Ohio Public Works Commission passing the measure won't result in higher taxes, as SCIP bonds are paid off with existing state revenue. Check out the fact sheet here. The Springfield Local District is seeking two emergency tax levy renewals. The first would renew a five year, 2.74-mill tax to collect $84 for each $100,00 of property valuation. The second is a five year, 7-mill tax to collect $113 for each $100,000 of valuation. Among other school levies: The Nordonia Hills City School District seeks an additional 5-mill levy that would collect $7.3 million annually or $175 for each $100,000 of appraised property value. Twinsburg City School District voters will weigh $97 million bond issue to be repaid annually over a minimum of 36 years as well as 3.84-mill property tax to pay for the bonds, amounting to $135 for each $100,000 of appraised property value. The Manchester Local School District is asking voters to renew two levies. The first would raise $275,000 over five years to pay for the district's emergency needs at an average rate of 0.81 mills, or $25 for each $100,000 of appraised property value. The second is an 8.5-mill tax to raise $1.8 million annually for five years; the tax would cost homeowners $152 annually for each $100,000 of appraised property value. The Mogadore Local School District, seeking to avoid an operating deficit of $840,000, is asking voters to pass a tax that averages 5.93 mills or $208 annually for each $100,000 of appraised property value. Voters living in communities served by the Akron-Summit County Public Library system will decide whether to issue $160 million in bonds to acquire sites and build and upgrade facilities. The amount will be repaid annually over a maximum 20 year period. The measure contains a property tax levy that would amount to $35 for each $100,000 of appraised value beginning in 2025 and first due in 2026. The library system's service area includes the Ccty of Akron and all of Summit County except for Barberton, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, Peninsula, Stow-Munroe Falls, and Twinsburg, which are served by independent libraries. Barberton voters will be asked to renew a five-year, 1.95 mill tax for Barberton Public Library. The tax amounts to $39 for each $100,000 of appraised property value. Springfield Township voters will weigh a partial replacement for three existing fire department levies that would reduce the the total amount collected by 0.125 mills. The county fiscal officer estimates it will cost $223 for each $100,000 of appraised property value. Sagamore Hills Township has a 6-mill police levy on its ballot that would collect $2.8 million annually, or $210 for each $100,000 of appraised property value. In Lakemore, village residents are being asked to approve a 4.75-mill tax would raise $417,000 annually for the fire department, or $166 yearly for each $100,000 of the appraised property value. Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@ or 330-541-9413. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Levies, library funding and more on May 6 ballot in Summit County
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Issue Two fuels work for Valley projects
(WKBN) – Across the state, voters will decide if a ballot referendum will be re-authorized. It's known as State Issue Two and has been on the books since 1987. If you happen to drive through a local paving, water or sewer line project in the area, chances are that at least some of the money to pay for it came from Issue Two. 'My opinion is this is probably one of the most successful programs that the state of Ohio has ever put out,' said Mahoning County Engineer Pat Ginnetti. Issue Two was originally established for road, bridge and infrastructure projects. It has been reauthorized three times and appears again on the May primary ballot. If approved, it would provide $250 million each year for the next 10 years. 'For small communities, it might be the only dollars that they can get to pave a road,' said Hubbard Mayor Ben Kyle. Money from Issue Two is overseen by the Ohio Public Works Commission, which divides the state into 19 districts based on population. Mahoning and Trumbull counties make up District 6. Governments within those districts have their project ideas judged using specific criteria. 'It provides fairness. It takes politics out of the equation and it forces us to come up with good projects,' Ginnetti said. This fiscal year alone, roughly $10.5 million is being used in District 6 to help pay for more than $47 million in construction projects. 'We are able to take these dollars, leverage them to then be able to make our local share for large paving projects and infrastructure improvements, just a little bit less. So, we're able to do more,' Kyle said. In the last year, Hubbard installed new water lines and then repaved both Rebecca and Caroline avenues using Issue Two money. In Mahoning County, Issue Two funds helped replace a pair of bridges in Poland Township, as well as a new wastewater pumping station in Springfield and the widening of Western Reserve Road. 'If we didn't have this, our program's going to shrink drastically,: Ginnetti said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
