State Issue 2, Local Levies Pass

By Bruce Yarnall, Barnesville Area News

For the fourth time, Ohio voters have renewed the State Capital Improvements Program that will fund the major infrastructure projects throughout the state through a $2.5 billion bond issue on the primary election ballot Tuesday. The measure received 67.8 percent approval statewide.  

Issue 2 will, through a state constitutional amendment, allow Ohio to issue bonds to help local governments pay for infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges, wastewater treatment plants, and more just as it has since its first passage in 1987.

In Belmont County the measure passed 2,256 to 830 with 6.85 % of eligible voters casting ballots. 

The vote difference in Monroe County was much closer, 438 in favor to 378 against, with a turnout of 8.81%.    

There were also three Western Belmont County local tax levies on the ballot. All passed.

• Belmont Village – voters approved a 1.5-mill new cemetery levy, 28-22

• Flushing Village – voters approved a 5-mill levy for fire apparatus, 49-9

• Kirkwood Township – voters approved a new 1-mill levy for cemetery maintenance, 10-7