Latest news with #StateCapitalImprovementProgram
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
- Politics
- Yahoo
13% of registered voters turn out for uneventful May 6 election in Tuscarawas County
NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ The May 6 special election in Tuscarawas County was relatively uneventful and went off without any problems. Brian Schwartzwelder "It went great. It went off without a hitch. Things were smooth. Some places were busier than others," said elections Director Brian Swartzwelder. This was his first election as director of the Tuscarawas County Board of Elections. More on board of elections: Gail Garbrandt out as county elections director; Brian Swartzwelder named to position New Philadelphia had a decent turnout because of a bond issue to build new schools in the city, he said. At other polling places around the county, "it was kind of quiet." At some polling places, the only issue on the ballot was State Issue 2, which will renew the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) for road and bridge repairs. There were no contested primaries. Overall, there were no problems with the election. "That's what we like," Swartzwelder said. According to unofficial results, 7,797 residents cast ballots on May 6, or 13.22% of registered voters in Tuscarawas County. Issues on the ballot ● Bolivar ‒ 1.5-mill renewal for police protection passes 67 to 20. ● Dover Township (including Parral) ‒ 1.5-mill additional for fire protection and emergency medical services failed 180 to 198. ● Dover Township Precinct 40 (local option) ‒ Sunset Meadows doing business as Bella Vista, on and off premises sale of alcohol and Sunday sales of wine, mixed beverages and spirituous liquors, passes 86 to 32. ● Gnadenhutten Library ‒ 1 mill renewal for current expenses passes 154 to 28. ● Lawrence Township ‒ 3-mill renewal for fire and EMS passes 258 to 126. ● Mineral City ‒ 0.75% increase in the village income tax failed 17 to 45. ● Sugar Creek Township (excluding village of Sugarcreek) ‒ 1.8-mill replacement for fire and EMS failed 18 to 10. ● Uhrichsville ‒ 2-mill renewal for fire protection; 2.85-mill renewal for ambulance and EMS service passes 140 to 42. ● Union Cemetery (Uhrichsville, Dennison and Mill Township) ‒ 0.48-mill renewal for operating expenses passes 249 to 60. ● Warwick Township (including village of Tuscarawas) ‒ 1.5-mill replacement for ambulance and emergency medical services passes 68 to 42. Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: May 6 special election goes off without a hitch in Tuscarawas County
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Issue 2: Voters approve infrastructure bond issue
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Ohio voters approved continuing to fund the state's major infrastructure projects through a $2.5 billion bond issue on the primary election ballot Tuesday. Issue 2 will, through a state constitutional amendment, allow Ohio to issue bonds to help local governments pay for infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges, wastewater treatment plants, and more, via the State Capital Improvement Program. 'Our members think infrastructure is important because they drive on the roads every day, and they want them to be safe and they want them to be, to have good quality roads so they don't damage our cars or trucks or commercial vehicles,' Ohio Chamber of Commerce President Steve Stivers said. A 'yes' vote on the ballot extended the bond issue. Which school issues central Ohio voters approved in May 2025 election 'Issue 2 is important for local infrastructure. Issue 2 will help create about 35,000 good-paying jobs, mostly construction jobs,' Stivers said. The program will fund $2.5 billion over 10 years, or $250 million per year, for those projects. This is an increase in funding of $50 million per year. While the bond issues won't increase residents' taxes, those state taxes would be used to pay down the bond issues over a possible 30-year period. 'We have lots of discussions about what we should spend money on, obviously, but almost all Ohioans agree on roads and bridges and infrastructure, and all Ohioans benefit,' Ohio Speaker of the House Matt Huffman said. The bond program was first instituted in 1987, with voters approving it three times since – in 1995, 2005, and 2014. That first bond issue was for $120 million per year. Election results are unofficial until certified by their county's board of elections. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
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
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio primary election: What's on the ballot, and where can I vote?
(WKBN) – Ohio's primary election is Tuesday, May 6. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. You can find your polling place on the Secretary of State's website. A valid photo ID is required to vote. Early in-person absentee voting began last month. Applications for absentee ballots to be mailed must have been received by the boards of elections by April 29. Absentee ballots, returned in person or via a method other than U.S. Mail, must be received by the boards of elections by the close of polls. Absentee ballots returned by U.S. Mail must be postmarked no later than May 5 and received by the boards of elections by May 10 to be counted. The deadline to register to vote in Ohio has already passed — that deadline was April 7. You can check your voter registration online. There is one statewide issue on the ballot. Issue 2 would allow the state to continue issuing bonds to fund major infrastructure projects at the local level. The program itself is not new. Ohio voters first approved it in 1987 and re-approved it through three separate constitutional amendments since then — the most recent in 2014. The last amendment will sunset on July 1. Issue 2 would amend the Ohio Constitution to allow the state to issue general obligation bonds to help local governments pay for capital improvement projects through the State Capital Improvement Program. The issue does not levy a new tax on Ohioans, since bonds are part of state budget planning, according to the sponsoring lawmakers. But Ohioans' tax dollars would continue to pay down the debts incurred by local governments that take advantage of the program, according to the Ohio Ballot Board. The new debts could take up to 30 years to repay. Locally, there are several candidates running for positions in the primary. In Youngstown, incumbent Mayor Tito Brown is being challenged by City Councilwoman Samantha Turner for the Democratic nomination. The winner will be on the November ballot to face the Republican and Independent candidates. There are also candidates running for Youngstown City Council. Poland Schools is trying to pass an emergency renewal levy, while Lowellville has an income tax increase of 2.5% on the ballot. In Trumbull County, several candidates are running for spots on the Warren and Niles city councils. Girard and Newton Falls also have city council races on the ballot. Vienna Township Fire and EMS has a five-year, 3.5 mills additional levy on the ballot. Vienna is trying to build its fire department's ambulance service back up while the township remains in fiscal emergency. The levy would generate $480,000 a year for the fire department, allowing it to bring back part-time personnel. Champion Township Police also put a five-year, 1.6-mill additional levy on the ballot. The police department said its expenses have exceeded tax revenue every year since 2021. The levy would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $56 per year and generate $413,000 a year for the department. In Columbiana County, Kelly Linger and Danielle Menning are running for Municipal Court Judge in a race that has become contentious at times. Menning was hired in the prosecutor's office in 2020 and is now assigned to juvenile court. Linger was hired as an assistant prosecutor a year later but was appointed last July by Governor Mike DeWine to fill a vacancy on the court. There are also several renewal levies and a Salem City Council race. You can see all of the issues and races on the ballot on the local boards of elections websites here: Columbiana County Board of Elections Mahoning County Board of Elections Trumbull County Board of Elections Justin Dennis contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
