As early in-person voting begins Tuesday, the following is a press release from Logan County Engineer, Scott Coleman:
Ohioans will be asked at the May 6th primary election, via Issue 2, to renew a popular state bond program which has been in place since the 1980s, that provides funds to local governments (counties, cities, villages, and townships) to pay for local infrastructure improvements including roads and bridges, wastewater and drinking water improvements, solid waste facilities, and stormwater drains. It’s a common-sense program that with past renewals deserves our enthusiastic support. Early voting starts April 8th.
The package (known as House Joint Resolution 8) seeks to extend a program that Ohio voters first approved in 1987 (with a 71% “yes” vote). Voters have since renewed the program by wide margins in 1995, 2005, and 2014. If a majority of Ohioans approve Issue 2, the amendment adding section 2t to the Ohio Constitution’s existing Article VIII would take immediate effect. The reason Ohio voters must approve most state bond issues including Issue 2 is the Ohio Constitution since 1851 has forbidden the state to rack up more than $750,000 in debt without voters’ approval.
Among the benefits of the proposal, in addition to providing vital funds to improve our state’s infrastructure, according to the statewide non-partisan Strong Ohio Communities coalition, is expected to create 35,000 good-paying construction jobs across the state while relying on existing state revenues. It provides critical funding to local governments for fixing and maintaining vital local infrastructure without raising taxes.
The Strong Ohio Communities coalition includes, among other groups, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce; the Affiliated Construction Trades of Ohio, representing union-member building-trades workers; the Associated General Contractors of Ohio; the Ohio Contractors Association; and the statewide associations of Ohio’s county, city and village and township governments, including the County Engineers Association of Ohio. This broad-based, bipartisan coalition knows that strong infrastructure equates to strong communities and a strong Ohio.
According to the Ohio Public Works Commission, coordinator of the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) this bond issue supports, over the program’s nearly 40-year life, it has “invested over $7 billion for 19,000 projects across the state,” and supported projects in all 88 counties.
One of the virtues of SCIP is the unique nature of how the funds are allocated. Each year the funds are allocated among 19 districts and decisions are made by a committee of local leaders appointed by local governments. Issue 2, like its four voter-approved predecessors, empowers a community’s leaders to make local decisions about local needs, as opposed to those decisions being made in Columbus.
Communities in Logan County have benefited from the SCIP, receiving just under $900,000 annually in grant funds. Additionally, small government grants and zero-interest loans are available. This infrastructure investment encourages economic development, creates and maintains business, contributes to public health and safety, creates high-paying, middle-class design and construction jobs, and keeps Ohio and Logan County economically competitive.
As it has been for almost 40 years, State Issue 2 is a smart policy for Ohio communities, for their taxpayers, and for local officials striving to address needs for facilities that boost communities’ safety, health, traffic flow, and sanitation.
Issue 2, like its predecessors, renews a highly successful, widely popular, pro-community program – without raising taxes. I urge Ohioans to vote “yes” on Issue 2.
Scott C. Coleman, P.E., P.S.
Logan County Engineer
