Ohio Issue 1, Economic Growth Act (2005)
Contents |
Issue 1 authorized spending $1.35 billion for "local government infrastructure.[1]
Election results
| Issue 1 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 1,512,669 | 54.1% | ||
| No | 1,282,571 | 45.9% | ||
Text of measure
Ballot language
The ballot language for Ohio Issue 1 was as follows: [1]
To adopt Section 2p of Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
This proposed amendment would:
1. Be for the purpose of creating and preserving jobs and stimulating economic growth in all areas of Ohio by improving local government public infrastructure, including roads and bridges, expanding Ohio’s research and development capabilities to promote product innovation and commercialization, and preparing sites and facilities for economic development in Ohio.
2. Declare that local government public infrastructure, and financial assistance for research and development and development of sites and facilities in Ohio for and in support of industry, commerce and distribution (all referred to together as “development purposes”) are public purposes.
3. Authorize the state to issue bonds to finance, or assist in financing, public infrastructure capital improvements for local governments. Authorize the state to issue bonds to provide financial assistance for research and development in support of Ohio industry, commerce, and business, and authorize state and local governments and state supported and state-assisted institutions of higher education to issue bonds and provide other financial assistance to support research and development purposes as provided for by law. Authorize the state to issue bonds to pay costs, or assist others in the payment of costs, of projects for the purpose of developing sites and facilities in Ohio.
4. Limit the total principal amount of general obligation bonds issued under this amendment for financing development purposes as follows: no more than $1.35 billion for local government public infrastructure with no more than $120 million in each of the first five fiscal years and no more than $150 million in each of the next five fiscal years; no more than $500 million for research and development purposes with no more than $100 million in each of the first three fiscal years and no more than $50 million in any other fiscal year; and no more than $150 million for developing sites and facilities with no more than $30 million in each of the first three fiscal years and no more than $15 million in any other fiscal year; provided that any principal amount that in any prior fiscal year could have been but was not issued may also subsequently be issued.
5. Require bonds for infrastructure capital improvements and developing sites and facilities mature no later than thirty (30) years after their date of issuance and for research and development purposes mature no later than twenty (20) years after their date of issuance, and that any refunding obligations mature no later than the permitted maturity date for the obligations being refunded; and provide that bonds for research and development purposes and developing sites and facilities will not be subject to the limits on state debt service under Section 17 of Article VIII or the prohibitions against lending aid and credit in Sections 4 and 6 of Article VIII of the Ohio Constitution.
6. Authorize the General Assembly to pass laws providing for its implementation, including laws providing procedures for issuing obligations, ensuring the accountability of all state funding provided for development purposes, restricting or limiting the taking by eminent domain of private property for disposition to private sector entities for research and development and the development of sites and facilities, and for the implementation of the research and development purposes to benefit people and businesses otherwise qualified for the receipt of funding in all areas of Ohio, including economically disadvantaged business and individuals in all areas of the state, including by the use Ohio products, materials, services and labor to the extent practicable.
If passed, this amendment will be effective immediately.
A majority yes vote is necessary for passage.
SHALL THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT BE ADOPTED?
YES
NO
Constitutional changes
The amendment added Section 2p to Article VIII of the Ohio Constitution.
Support
- The following are excerpts of the official ballot argument in favor of Issue 1:[1]
- A YES vote on Issue 1, the Jobs for Ohio bond issue, will help create and keep more good jobs without raising taxes.
- YES ON ISSUE 1 HELPS OHIO KEEP AND CREATE JOBS...
- YES ON ISSUE 1 RENEWS OHIO’S LOCAL GOVERNMENT ROAD AND BRIDGE BUILDING PROGRAM...
- YES ON ISSUE 1 WON’T INCREASE TAXES...
- ISSUE 1 WAS PUT ON THE BALLOT WITH STRONG REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT IN THE OHIO LEGISLATURE.
Endorsements
- Ohio Governor Bob Taft
- Former Senator John Glenn [2]
Donors
The following people and organizations were the top donors to Jobs for Ohio 2005. In total, $2,959,229 was raised to support the campaign.[3]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| LIMITED BRANDS | $100,000 |
| WESTERN & SOUTHERN LIFE INSURANCE CO | $100,000 |
| KEY BANK | $100,000 |
| LINDNER JR, CARL H | $100,000 |
| NATIONAL CITY CORP | $100,000 |
| AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER | $100,000 |
| OHIOANS FOR THE THIRD FRONTIER | $100,000 |
Opposition
- The following is an excerpt of the official ballot argument in opposition to Issue 1:[1]
- Issue 1 is not about jobs; it’s about long-term debt. PASSAGE OF THIS AMMENDMENT WILL ELIMINATE FOUR TAXPAYER PROTECTIONS IN THE OHIO CONSTITUTION, including prohibitions against government:
- Spending tax revenue for uses other than the originally levied purpose;
- Incurring or renewing bond indebtedness in the absence of a legislative plan to collect enough tax revenue to pay the annual interest and to provide a fund for the redemption of bonds;
- Engaging in joint ventures with, or lending aid and credit, to private entities; and
- Entering into debt for an internal improvement.
Endorsements
- Ohio Rep. Tom Brinkman Jr.
- Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell [2]
Donors
The following people and organizations were the top donors to SPOT PAC. In total, $250 was raised to support the campaign.[3]
| Donor | Amount |
|---|---|
| MU/RYANS DOWNTOWN | $150 |
| RYAN & RYAN REAL ESTATE CO | $75 |
| RYAN, JAMES M | $25 |
Path to the ballot
Ohio Issue 1 was placed on the ballot as a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment. The Ohio General Assembly placed the amendment on ballot via House Joint Resolution 2. The resolution passed the House of Representatives on August 2, 2005 and the State Senate on August 3, 2005.
See also
External links
- Ohio Issue 1 2005 election results
- Official Voter Guide to the Ohio 2005 ballot measures
- Ohio General Assembly, House Joint Resolution 2 (2005)
- Cincinnati.com. "Issue 1 asks voters for $2B," October 23, 2005
References
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