Ohio voters will decide tomorrow whether to allow the state to issue $700 million of general obligation bonds over the next four years to finance a technology jobs program.
Voters in the state will also weigh in on a constitutional amendment that would change the location of a new Columbus casino from its planned downtown site to an abandoned manufacturing plant on the outskirts of the city.
Voters in Indiana and Michigan will also head to the polls tomorrow. Michigan holds its primary Aug. 3, but voters Tuesday will vote on a number of local issues, including school bonding requests.
Indiana voters will select candidates to face off in November’s general election in what is expected to be a tough and important election year for the state. Voters will also face eight school bond questions.
Ohio’s casino relocation amendment follows last November’s approval of a constitutional amendment allowing casinos in Toledo, Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland. The amendment passed despite being rejected by a majority of voters in the Columbus area. After the election, Columbus officials began pushing for a new amendment that would move the casino from its planned high-profile downtown location.
The $700 million bond proposal has sparked controversy across the state and has been part of the heated gubernatorial race. Gov. Ted Strickland supports the issue, while most Republicans have said the plan would mean more debt straining future budgets.
Under the plan, Ohio would borrow $700 million to renew the Third Frontier jobs program launched in 2002 with a $1.6 billion bond issue. The state would issue up to $450 million of GOs through 2011, $225 million in 2012, and no more than $175 million each year after that.
The proposal would also require independent oversight of the proposed projects. Bond proceeds would fund investments in research and development projects by Ohio businesses focused on technology.
Ohio voters will also select party candidates for offices from governor to city and county councils who will then face off in the November general election.
Some 29 bond requests will appear on various local ballots, most of which are offered by school districts. Voters in Mayfield will consider a 0.5% increase in the municipal income tax that would fund general operations.
Michigan voters will head to the polls to weigh in on a number of local offices and school bond requests. St. Johns Public Schools has a $64.3 million bond request on the ballot, and Kalamazoo Public Schools is seeking to borrow $62 million. The Macomb County Fitzgerald Public Schools will ask voters to approve a $68.4 million proposal to finance a new elementary school and other renovations.
Grand Rapids will ask voters to approve a 15% income tax increase to 1.5% from 1.3% that would be used to support city operations. The tax would raise an additional $7.5 million annually that would be used to save up to 20 firefighter positions.
Indiana is holding its statewide primary tomorrow, and voters will select among a large slate of candidates running for offices from U.S. Senate to local prosecutors. It is expected to be a tough election year in the state. With a large Republican majority in the Senate and a popular GOP governor in the midst of his second term, Democrats are battling to retain their slim majority in the House. The stakes are high, observers say, because next year lawmakers will be charged with redrawing legislative districts.
Eight bond proposals from school districts and townships across the state will also appear on the ballot.
Nebraska will hold its primary next week. In addition to picking candidates for statewide offices, voters will decide whether to approve a request to expand state law to allow cities, counties, and villages to issue tax-exempt debt on behalf of nonprofit organizations for capital projects.
