Latest news with #SamRossi
CBS News
11-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Ohio voters approve ballot issue authorizing $2.5 billion in bonds over 10 years for infrastructure
Ohio voters voted on Tuesday to reauthorize a program 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. 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. The Strong Ohio Communities Coalition, a gathering of business, labor, agriculture and civic organizations, supported the measure, which attracted no significant opposition. Coalition spokesperson Sam Rossi thanked voters and the Ohio General Assembly, which placed the measure on the ballot. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce said in a statement that it looks forward to witnessing all the improvements roll out and the jobs they create, saying voters recognized "the importance of modern, reliable infrastructure to Ohio's quality of life and its economic outlook." Though it was listed on the ballot as Issue 2, Tuesday's ballot measure was the first and only statewide issue to appear. That's the result of a new numbering system approved by state lawmakers after the elections of 2023 and 2024 featured several ballot issues timed close together and called either Issue 1 or Issue 2. Ohio's next statewide ballot question will be labeled Issue 3.
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.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio voters approve local infrastructure measure, Issue 2
People cast their votes on the first day of early voting at East Point First Mallalieu United Methodist Church on Oct. 15, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by) According to unofficial results, Ohio voters approved a ballot measure Tuesday allowing the state to borrow $2.5 billion to support public works projects. The proposal, known as Issue 2, renews the State Capital Improvement Program — an initiative that has helped local governments fix roads, bridges, sewers and more since the late 1980s. This is the fourth time voters have approved a 10-year renewal of the program. To fund projects, the state will issue $2.5 billion in bonds, which is a notable increase from the $2 billion approved in the last renewal. Lawmakers sent the question to the ballot in the waning days of the previous legislative session, but the idea has not been controversial. A vast array of interest groups representing business, unions, agriculture and local governments all signed on in support. A conservative lawmaker and far-right organizers spoke out against the idea, but there was no organized opposition to the measure. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In a statement the Strong Ohio Communities Coalition thanked Ohio voters for approving the initiative and lawmakers for putting it on the ballot. 'Ohioans understand that our local roads and bridges and other basic infrastructure need ongoing improvement,' Sam Rossi, the coalition's spokesman said. '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.' 'Thanks to our coalition's dedicated work across Ohio for the last few months,' he added, 'voters have once again said 'Yes' to strengthening our local communities by creating jobs and improving local roads and bridges.' Perhaps the most significant concern supporters faced was voter confusion in a low turnout election. As early voting was beginning, Republican lawmakers in the Ohio House were polishing off a plan to issue $600 billion in bonds for a new Cleveland Browns stadium. Lawmakers included that provision in their state budget proposal. In the run up to Election Day, Issue 2 supporters were working hard to differentiate their local infrastructure bonds from those supporting the Browns. It appears voters had little problem discerning one from the other. As of 8:20 pm, 'Yes' votes were surpassing 'No' by a nearly 40-point margin, and in Cuyahoga County where the Browns play, 'Yes' was winning by a more than 3-to-1 margin. This story will updated. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
