Ohioans approve Issue 2 by wide margin

Roughly two-thirds of those who voted in Ohio’s May Primary Election voted to approve State Issue 2. 

According to unofficial results released by the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, 588,251 (66.7 percent) voters supported the measure, while 279,873 (32.2 percent) voted against it. 

Issue 2 was a measure to allow the State of Ohio to issue general obligation bonds to pay for or help local governments pay for public infrastructure capital improvements under the State Capital Improvements Program. 

Funds raised from the bonds will be used to keep Ohioans safe and to maintain the quality of life, as local communities need help fixing deteriorating roads, bridges and other facilities.
 
Passage of Issue 2 renewed a 38-year, highly successful program that helps local governments with these vital improvements, without raising taxes.

Funds from Issue 2 are limited to roads and bridges, wastewater treatment systems, water supply systems, solid waste disposal facilities, and stormwater and sanitary collection, storage, and treatment facilities, including real property or interests in real property, facilities and equipment related or incidental thereto, and the cost of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, expansion, improvement, planning and equipping.

Building trades members will benefit from its passage, as the bonds will create Prevailing Wage projects for the tradesmen and tradeswomen who work in Ohio’s union construction industry. 

A statement issued on the Ohio State Building Trades Council X account on May 7 thanked the voters for their support. 

“The Ohio State Building and Construction Trades Council, including its 14 regional councils, were in full support of the renewal of State Issue 2, and are extremely grateful for the tremendous support the voters of Ohio displayed yesterday at the polls,” it read.

The amendment limits bond issuance to $2.5 billion over a 10-year period, with no more than $250 million in each of the first 10 fiscal years. It also authorizes the General Assembly to pass laws for its implementation. These laws must establish a procedure for incurring and issuing obligations and provide for the use of Ohio products, materials, services, and labor to the extent possible in any project financed, in whole or in part, under the section.

A coalition of groups that included Affiliated Construction Trades (ACT) Ohio and the Associated General Contractors of Ohio supported the passage of Issue 2.