Ohio

Midwestern voters head to the polls tomorrow to cast decisions on elected offices, new casinos, and more than 125 ballot questions that would authorize more than $3.3 billion worth of borrowing, led by Detroit Public Schools' $500 million request and $750 million for a new public hospital in Indiana.

CHICAGO — The Sierra Club of Ohio is ramping up its efforts to prevent ­American Municipal Power Inc. from building a new $3.9 billion coal-fired plant in Ohio.

Fitch Ratings downgraded Lorain County’s limited-tax general obligation debt one notch to AA-minus and the Lorain County Port Authority’s 2003A bonds — which are secured by the county’s pledge of non-ad-valorem tax revenues — to A-plus from AA-minus.

Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the Dayton City School District’s $219 million of outstanding general obligation debt to A3 from A2 and revised the outlook to stable from negative. It also downgraded the district’s $15.4 million of outstanding certificates of participation to Baa1 from A3.

Moody’s Investors Service last week upgraded to A1 from A2 the Cuyahoga Falls City School District’s general obligation debt.

The Democratic-led Ohio House is likely to vote as early as today on legislation that would enact Gov. Ted ­Strickland’s proposal to freeze planned income-tax cuts to help balance the budget.

CHICAGO — Moody’s Investors Service downgraded Akron’s general obligation and income-tax backed debt as the Ohio city struggles with a budget deficit and heads into what is expected to be a tough 2010.

CHICAGO — The Ohio Water Development Authority tomorrow will begin taking retail orders on $225 million of triple-A rated refunding revenue bonds as part of its water pollution control loan fund program.

Two Republican state representatives and the Ohio Christian Alliance have filed a lawsuit with the Ohio Supreme Court challenging Gov. Ted Strickland’s executive order allowing slot machines at race tracks.