With the May 6 Primary Election quickly approaching, voters in both Williams and Fulton Counties will find that several local issues are also appearing on their ballots during this election. Voters in both counties will be asked to decide on Issue 1, a proposed constitutional amendment to fund public infrastructure capital improvement by permitting the issuance of general obligations bonds. This issue involves a renewal of a program first authorized in 1987 and then reauthorized in 1995 and 2005. Passing of Issue 1 would authorize the state to issue up to $1.875 billion in bonds over the next year to generate funds for public works. Advocates of Issue 1 claim that renewal of this program is vital in assisting counties, cities, and villages with the repair, upkeep, and modernization of their infrastructures. Those opposing passage of Issue 1 claim that passage will increase Ohio’s debt by $25 million over the first 5 years and $50 million over the second 5 years.
Additionally, voters in the Millcreek-West Unity Local School District will be asked to decide on Issue 2, a proposed additional tax levy for the purpose of school safety and security at a rate not exceeding 0.9 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.09 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2014, and first due in calendar year 2015.
Voters in the North Central Local School District will be asked to consider and decide on Issue 3, a proposed bond issue for the district. Passage will allow bonds to be issued by the North Central Local School District for the purpose of paying a portion of the local share of school construction under the State of Ohio Classroom Facilities Assistance program for a segmented project, including construction of a new high school building, together with equipment, furnishings, landscaping and all necessary appurtenances in the principal amount of $2,225,000, to be repaid annually over a maximum period of 37 years, and an annual levy of property taxes be made outside the ten-mill limitation, estimated by the county auditor to average over the repayment period of the bond issue 1.4 mills for each one dollar of tax valuation, which amounts to fourteen cents for each one hundred dollars of tax valuation, commencing in 2014 and first due in the calendar year 2015, to pay for the annual debt charges of the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those bonds.
Voters in Fulton County will be asked to vote on a renewal of 1.1 mills and increase of 0.5 mill to constitute a tax for the purpose of providing and maintaining senior citizens’ services and facilities at a rate not exceeding 1.6 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.16 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 tears, commencing in 2014, and first due in calendar year 2015.
Additionally, voters in Gorham Township will be asked to decide on the renewal of a tax for the purpose of maintaining and operating Pleasant View Union Cemetery at a rate not exceeding 0.4 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.04 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2014, and first due in calendar year 2015.