CLICK HERE FOR MAY 6 HARDIN COUNTY SAMPLE BALLOT
Tuesday, May 6, is Ohio primary election day. Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The election has several partisan races. In addition, there is:
• one state issue,
• Issue 4 - Hardin County Board of DD Simon Kenton School & Harco Industries,
• Issue 5 - Hardin County Extention (4-H) levy
• a mental health and recovery services board levy and
• an Ada school tax levy renewal.
Here is a summary of the mental health levy:
Since 2008 the board has lost over $3 million in revenue. In that same period an opiate epidemic, tragedies in schools and mental illness prevention needs have increased dramatically.
Since 2008 the board has allocated up to $1 million per year in “emergency funds” to maintain vital prevention and treatment services. By 2016 these funds will be depleted.
With the 1.0 mill levy, the cost per average homeowner is $30 per year.
This levy serves residents of Allen, Hardin and Auglaize counties. The number of persons served includes:
• Mental health: 14,289 persons
• Alcohol and other drugs: 2,313 persons
• Total served: 16,603 persons
Here is a summary of the Ada school levy:
Ada school district voters will cast ballots on a renewal of a permanent improvement levy.
The levy was oroginally approved in January 1990.
According to Ohio law, permanent improvement monies are placed in a separate fund from the general fund and may only be used for items that are more “permanent” — lasting five years or more.
Because the levy is a renewal it is not a new tax or a tax increase. The 2.90 mills are included in property taxes, according to Connie Fleming, chair of Advancing Ada Schools levy committee.
The levy supports such projects as new bus purchases, textbooks, building repairs not covered by warranty, technology costs and school equipment and machinery.
Here is a summary of Issue 5:
A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Hardin County for the purpose of the operations of programs and services by the Hardin County Board of Developmental Disabilities and for the acquisition, construction, renovation, financing, maintenance, and operation of developmental disabilities facilities (Simon Kenton and Harco Industries) at a rate not exceeding 4 mills for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.40 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five (5) years, commencing in 2014, first due in calendar year 2015.
Here is a summary of Issue 4:
An additional tax for the benefit of Hardin County for the purpose of providing revenue to Ohio State University Extension for 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Community Development at a rate not exceeding thirty- five hundredths (0.35) mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to three and one-half cents ($0.035) for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for five (5) years, commencing in 2014, first due in calendar year 2015.
Here is a summary of State Issue One:
The amendment authorizes the State of Ohio to issue general obligation bonds to pay for or help local governments pay for public infrastructure capital improvements. Projects would be limited to roads and bridges, waste water treatment systems, water supply systems, solid waste disposal facilities, and storm water and sanitary collection, storage, and treatment facilities, including real property or interests in real property, facilities and equipment related or incidental thereto, and the cost of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, expansion, improvement, planning and equipping.
The Ohio Constitution currently contains a provision authorizing the State of Ohio to issue bonds to finance public infrastructure capital improvements for local governments through the State Capital Improvements Program. This proposed constitutional amendment would reauthorize the issuance of those bonds.
The proposed amendment limits bond issuance to $1.875 billion over a ten-year period, with no more than $175 million in each of the first five fiscal years and no more than $200 million in each of the next five fiscal years. Any principal amount that could have been issued in a prior fiscal year, but was not issued, may subsequently be issued.
No general obligations for public infrastructure capital improvements may be issued under this amendment until the existing authority to issue state infrastructure bonds under Article VIII, Section 2p of the Ohio Constitution has been exhausted. These general obligations must mature no later than thirty (30) years after their date of issuance, and any refunding obligations must mature no later than the permitted maturity date for the obligations being refunded.
This amendment also authorizes the General Assembly to pass laws providing for its implementation. The laws must establish a procedure for incurring and issuing obligations and provide for the use of Ohio products, materials, services, and labor to the extent possible in any project financed, in whole or in part, under the section.
If approved, the amendment would take effect immediately.
