Buckeyes' Big Ballot

CHICAGO - Midwestern voters on Nov. 4 will weigh in on ballot measures that include nearly $5 billion of bonds - including $3 billion in Ohio alone - for school, sewer, land preservation, and other projects.

Voters also are being asked to approve a new casino in Ohio, a sewer system lease in Akron, and to raise taxes to fund transit in Milwaukee County. In North Dakota they will be asked if they want to cut individual income tax rates.

Ohio voters will consider roughly $3 billion in bond proposals across the state. Columbus leads the region with a $1.66 billion package that marks the largest in the city's history. The package includes seven new bond proposals, six of which are part of the city's $3.3 billion, six-year capital improvement plan. Included is $1.1 billion in utility revenue bonds, of which about half would finance the city's effort to update its sewer system to meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards.

The utility bond proposal will be divided into two separate issues on the ballot - a $552 million sewer issue and a $525 million water issue. Also appearing on the ballot will be a $347 million streets and highway proposal, an $86 million safety and health proposal, a $124 million recreation and parks issue, and a $32 million refuse collection issue.

None of the proposals call for a tax increase. Columbus officials typically bring bond issues to the ballot every three to five years. Of the 82 bond issues proposed since 1956, 76 have passed, according to the city's long-time auditor, Hugh Dorrian.

Separately, the Columbus Board of Education is seeking approval for a $164 million bond issue that would include $123 million for construction, new school buses, and computers.

Statewide, Ohio officials are asking voters to approve $400 million in borrowing to finance the Clean Ohio program as part of Gov. Ted Strickland's $1.57 billion economic stimulus plan. The bond package would authorize the state to issue up to $200 million for conservation and preservation of natural areas as well as other projects.

The proposals are considered key to Strickland's plan to bolster the state's weak economy by creating 57,000 new jobs in industries as diverse as renewable energy and biomedical research. The $1.57 billion plan includes nearly $1 billion in borrowing, though voter approval is needed only on the $400 million.

About a third of the state's school districts have levy increases or bond proposals on local ballots. Leading the slate is a $261 million request from the South-Western City School District and a $141.8 million proposal for the Princeton City School District.

Indiana's election marks the first under a new state law requiring that nearly all new-money bond projects go before voters. One of the largest is a $278 million bond issue proposed by Indianapolis Public Schools. Proceeds would finance the third phase of a capital improvement plan that began in 2001. So far the district has spent roughly $450 million on various construction projects as part of the plan.

Indiana's only other bond proposal is a $149 million authorization sought by the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. in the southwestern part of the state.

Voters across Illinois face more than 30 ballot measures seeking approval for about $1 billion in bonding for schools, park districts, community colleges, forest preserves, and fire districts. The three largest requests are for districts outside of Chicago.

Harper Community College District 512 in the northwest suburbs of Cook County is seeking approval for $153.6 million in borrowing authority for construction projects. Officials said they need the funds to finance renovations and other repairs to the 40-year-old campus that has an enrollment of 41,000 full and part-time students. No tax increase is needed because debt issued in 2000 is being paid down.

The Lake County Forest Preserve District is seeking $185 million to finance its purchase of open land and to make improvements to its existing land stock of 27,000 acres north of Chicago. The district wants to improve public access to its lands, restore habitats, and purchase another 3,500 acres. No tax hikes are needed as the existing debt continues to be retired, freeing up taxes for repayment on the new debt.

Lockport Township High School District 205 is seeking $141.7 million for a new high school to initially serve 2,700 students and to relieve overcrowding at two other high school campuses.

In Wisconsin, voters face nearly 20 bonding measures totaling about $250 million. Minnesota voters will weigh in on more than a dozen referendums totaling about $160 million, while Missouri voters face more than 10 bonding referendums worth $135 million. In Michigan, voters will decide on two local bond proposals, including a $79 million issue for Van Buren Public Schools and $5 million for Northwest Community Schools.

Voters across the region also face a range of non-bonding ballot measures.

North Dakotans will weigh in on a measure that would cut the state's individual income tax rate in half and its corporate tax rate by 15%. Another measure would establish a reserve fund for annual oil and gas tax revenue exceeding $100 million. State lawmakers would need a two-thirds supermajority to tap into the reserve fund under the proposal.

The measures come as North Dakota enjoys a $1.2 billion budget surplus, largely stemming from recent record-high oil prices. If approved, the income tax rate cut would cut the state's revenue by about $414 million a year and drop income tax rates to a range from 1.05% to 2.77% - the lowest top income tax rate among all states.

In a recent report on ballot measures, Standard & Poor's analysts warned that the measure, if passed, could mean the state would need to cut future spending.

"We believe that if the measure passes, it could require significant expenditure adjustments to keep the state's operations in balance," analysts wrote, noting that $414 million totals about 16% of North Dakota's 2009 biennial budget. "Management has indicated that it plans to prepare multiple budgetary scenarios for the 2011 biennium should either, or both, measures pass."

Akron voters will get a chance to weigh in on a controversial plan to lease the city's sewer system to generate funds for a local scholarship program. Akron Mayor Donald Plusquellic proposed the plan earlier this year, predicting a private company would be willing to pay up to $250 million up front in cash to enter into a long-term lease of the system.

The money would fund a scholarship program for Akron students who attend a local college or trade school and remain in the area for a number of years. The plan quickly attracted a slew of critics who gathered enough signatures to force the proposal onto the November ballot.

Ohio voters will vote on whether to allow a privately owned, $600 million casino to be established in Clinton County. If approved, casino operators would be required to pay a 30% tax on its gross receipts that would in part go to counties across the state. If passed, the measure is likely to provide a certain amount of tax relief for Ohio residents, Standard & Poor's analysts noted in a recent report on significant ballot measures across the U.S.

In Illinois, voters will decide whether the state should convene a constitutional convention to amend the state's constitution. Either a majority of voters casting a ballot or at least 60% of those actually voting on the measure is needed for approval.

Lawmakers and public interest groups are mixed over whether such a convention is needed. Some opponents believe the state can't afford the estimated $80 million cost of the convention amid warnings of faltering revenue collections and a worsening economy.

Milwaukee County voters face an advisory question on whether the local sales tax should be raised by one cent to fund park and transit improvements and emergency medical services. The County Board approved placing the measure on the ballot earlier this year, but county Executive Scott Walker vetoed it. The board overrode his veto.

The increase would boost the local sales tax to 6.6% and raise an additional $130 million annually. About $67 million would go to help lower county property taxes and the remainder would fund transit projects. State legislative support is also needed. Walker wants the county instead to explore leasing Mitchell International Airport to raise funds for transit and other projects.

In Kansas City, Mo., voters will decide whether to enact a three-eighths of a cent sales tax to raise the funds needed to build an $815 million, 14-mile light-rail starter line. An opponent of the project filed a lawsuit accusing the city of failing to follow proper ballot procedures. Although the lawsuit continues, a Jackson County judge this week denied a request to delay the referendum.

St. Louis County voters are being asked to approve a half-cent increase in the sales tax to raise about $80 million in additional revenue annually to cover the Metro transit agency's operations and to fund further expansions. The agency faces an $8 million deficit in its current budget and a looming $45 million deficit in its fiscal 2010 budget. It has warned that service cuts and a fare increase loom without an infusion of new cash.

In Nebraska, voters will weigh in on a referendum that would allow local governments to use non-general taxes - such as donations, surplus funds, and fees - for economic development taxes. Currently state law allows local governments to use only sales and property tax revenue to fund economic development.

While voters will be deciding on the next president of the United States, a handful of governors' seats are also up for re-election. North Dakotans will decide between incumbent Republican John Hoeven, Democrat Tim Mathern, and Independent DuWayne Hendrickson.

In Indiana, voters will select their next governor as Republican incumbent Mitch Daniels faces Democrat Jill Long Thompson. In Missouri, Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon and Republican congressman Kenny Hulshof are vying to replace retiring Gov. Matt Blunt, a Republican.

Ohio voters will pick a new state attorney general after Marc Dann stepped down amid scandal earlier this year. Current state Treasurer Richard Cordray, a Democrat, faces Republican Mike Crites and Independent Robert M. Owens for the office.

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