With early voting already in progress, State Issue 2 is garnering significant attention ahead of the May 6 election. This ballot initiative, if passed, would reauthorize the issuance of up to $250 million in general obligation bonds yearly for the next decade, aimed at funding public infrastructure improvements across the county, as well as the entire state of Ohio. A key detail for taxpayers: Issue 2 is structured to work within existing state revenues, meaning there'd be no tax increase should the measure succeed.
"These funds help keep our neighborhoods connected and our economy moving," Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne was quoted in a statement, highlighting the proposal's impact on local projects, whether those be road repairs in Parma or bolstering bridges in Euclid. Issue 2's approval track record is strong, with Ohio voters having given it the green light four previous times since 1987, and the funding has historically alleviated local tax burdens by spreading infrastructure costs across the state's taxpayers, not just property owners in the affected locales.
Michael Dever, Director of Cuyahoga County Public Works, emphasized the urgency and need for such financing, "From repairing aging roads to replacing deteriorating bridges, this funding is a key part of how we preserve and improve infrastructure across the County," he told Cuyahoga County officials. These funds are not just about maintaining the status quo, but also about pushing forward with critical projects that might otherwise be deferred or downsized due to budget constraints.
Looking back at past accomplishments fueled by this program, recent efforts include the $6.4 million resurfacing of Turney Road and the $10.1 million Sprague Road widening project, which spanned several communities. Altogether, the State Capital Improvement Program has invested over $5 billion in projects statewide since 1987, with nearly half a billion dollars directly benefiting Cuyahoga County.
