Ohio Issue 2, Local Public Infrastructure and State Highways Bond Amendment (1995)

Ohio Issue 2
Election date November 7, 1995
Topic Bond issues and Drinking water systems
Status Approved
Type Legislatively referred constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

Ohio Issue 2 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in Ohio on November 7, 1995. It was approved.

A “yes” vote supported allowing the state to issue two general obligation bonds for a combined $2.4 billion: up to $1.2 billion in general obligation bonds, limited to $120 million per year, to assist local governments in funding public infrastructure projects and up to $1.2 billion in general obligation bonds, limited to $220 million per year, for state highway capital improvements.

A “no” vote opposed allowing the state to issue up to $1.2 billion in general obligation bonds over 10 years, limited to $120 million per year, to assist local governments in funding public infrastructure projects.

Election results

Ohio Issue 2
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		1,408,834	61.94%
No		865,698	38.06%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Issue 2 was as follows:

“

To adopt Section 2(m) of Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Ohio. In order to preserve and expand public infrastructure of local governments and the state including highways and to improve Ohio's economic well-being, this proposed amendment would: Authorize the state to issue bonds and other obligations to finance or assist in financing (a) public infrastructure capital improvements of local governments, being roads and bridges, waste water treatment systems, water supply systems, solid waste disposal facilities, and storm water and sanitary collection, storage and treatment facilities and (b) highway capital improvements including those on the state highway system and urban extensions thereof, those within or leading to public parks or recreation areas, and those within or leading to municipal corporations. Limit the principal amount of obligations issued for infrastructure capital improvements to $120 million in any fiscal year plus any authorized amount that was not issued in prior fiscal years, and limit the total principal amount of highway obligations that may be outstanding under this amendment to $1.2 billion. Limit the principal amount of obligations issued for highway capital improvements to $220 million in any fiscal year plus any authorized amount that was not issued in prior fiscal years, and limit the total principal amount of highway obligations that may be outstanding under this amendment to $1.2 billion. Provide that the obligations issued under this amendment shall be backed by the full faith and credit of the state, except that highway use fees may be pledged only to the obligations issued to finance highway capital improvements. Require the use of Ohio products, materials, services, and labor for projects financed under this amendment to the extent practicable. If adopted, this amendment shall take immediate effect. Shall the proposed amendment be adopted?

”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for this measure was:

“

1. This amendment authorizes the State of Ohio to pay for or help local governments to pay for the cost of public infrastructure capital improvements of local governments, being roads and bridges, waste water treatment systems, water supply systems, solid waste disposal facilities, and storm water and sanitary collection, storage, and treatment facilities. In addition, this amendment would allow the state to pay for or help local governments to pay for the cost of highway capital improvements including those on the state highway system and urban extensions thereof, those within or leading to public parks or recreation areas, and those within or leading to municipal corporations. 2. The maximum amount the state could borrow for local public infrastructure capital improvements under this amendment through the issuance of bonds or other obligations is $120 million in any one year plus any authorized amount that was not issued in prior fiscal years and $1.2 billion overall. The maximum amount the state could borrow for highway capital improvements under this section is $220 million in any one year plus any authorized amount that was not issued in prior fiscal years and $1.2 billion overall. 3. The General Assembly could limit the amount of obligations issued in any year in order to protect the state’s credit rating. 4. Obligations issued under this amendment would be backed by the full faith and credit of the state, except that highway use fees may be pledged only to the obligations issued to finance highway capital improvements. 5. Ohio products, materials, services, and labor would be used on projects financed under this amendment to the extent practicable.

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Amending the Ohio Constitution

A 60% vote is required during one legislative session for the Ohio State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 60 votes in the Ohio House of Representatives and 20 votes in the Ohio State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

See also

1995 Measures

• 1995 Measures
• Drinking water systems on the ballot
• Bond issues on the ballot
• Highways and bridges on the ballot
• 1995 legislative sessions

Ohio

• Ohio ballot measures
• Ohio ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• Cleveland State University Law Library, "Ohio Constitution - Law and History: Table of Proposed Amendments," June 2, 2023