Seeing Improvements Close to Home Prompted Approval on Issue 2

Nearly seven in 10 Ohio voters favored the passage of Issue 2 in the May 6 primary election, securing the renewal of the State Capital Improvement Program’s (SCIP) $2.5 billion, 10-year bonding program that assists local government infrastructure improvements.

According to Issue 2 proponents, getting the renewal passed was as simple as having Ohioans looking around and seeing what all the SCIP funding provides.

“… We got the message out to the voters, and they understood that, ‘Hey, this is how my road gets paved.’ Or ‘This is how my bridge gets replaced.’ Or ‘This is why we don’t have flooding in this community anymore,’” said Logan County Engineer Scott Coleman of why Issue 2 received 67.8% approval.

May’s passage of Issue 2 was the fourth renewal for SCIP, which is administered through the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC), and received the highest approval percentage by Ohio voters since the program’s inception in 1987.

Coleman, who has served as a county engineer since 2002, has seen the benefits of SCIP funding from when he was a paving inspector to now working with local governments in his native county. “The (Logan County Engineer’s Office) works with townships and villages,” he said. “… Generally, we have used OPWC funds for road surfacing along with local matching funds.” Coleman added that though counties utilize various forms of local funding measures – such as license plate and tire fees – for infrastructure improvements, an annual shortfall of nearly $1 million per county exists.

This is where the OPWC and SCIP have served a critical need for local governments. “Local governments have repeatedly told me that they could not afford these projects otherwise,” said OPWC Director Linda Bailiff. “Constructing far fewer projects or deferring needed infrastructure improvements beyond their useful life would result in public safety hazards, health risks and economic damage.”

Funded through general revenue, SCIP provides grants and loans to fund local government infrastructure – such as roads, bridges, culverts and water supply, wastewater and stormwater collection systems.

Since Ohio voters first approved the program in 1987, SCIP has provided funding for more than 19,000 critical infrastructure projects and upgrades in all 88 counties. In the program’s most-recent 10-year cycle (2014-2024), SCIP funds were used on 4,490 local projects benefiting 1,084 municipalities, counties, townships and other subdivisions across Ohio.

Bailiff, who has served as OPWC Director since 2019, said Issue 2’s passage not only continues SCIP for another 10 years but also provides an increased amount that can be awarded to improve local infrastructure.

According to Bailiff, the 10-year program’s increased amount from $2 billion to $2.5 billion was needed due to rising inflation, materials and labor costs. “What a dollar paid for in 2019 now costs $1.30,” she said. “However, depending on bid prices, the increase can mean awarding additional projects. We are grateful the General Assembly understood the need and was receptive to proposing an increase to Ohio’s voters.”

Issue 2’s passage and SCIP’s renewal was supported by members of the business, labor, transportation, public safety and local government industries and associations – including the Ohio Contractors Association. “It’s all about their support,” Bailiff said. “The program would not flourish without them. The industry directly benefits from this program, including the creation of 35,000 good-paying jobs, the opportunities to engage in more work and the demand for construction materials …

“I think the show of overwhelming support was a combination of factors, including bipartisan backing; not only no state tax increases but reduced pressure for local tax levies; job creation; and the recognition by voters that the need exists,” Bailiff added. “This program funds projects in all 88 counties. This has been a well-run program for nearly four decades and it gets results. It’s very popular because of its countless successes.”

OCA & Industry Support For Issue 2

• A&A Safety Inc.
• Affiliated Construction Trades of Ohio (ACT Ohio)
• American Council of Engineering Companies of Ohio (ACEC Ohio)
• Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Ohio
• Axis Civil Construction LLC
• B.G. Trucking & Construction Inc.
• BOCA Construction Inc.
• Barrett Paving Materials Inc.
• Beaver Excavating Co.
• CAP-STONE & Associates Inc.
• CNA Surety Corp.
• Capitol Tunneling Inc.
• Central Midwest Council of Carpenters
• Chagrin Valley Consultants
• Complete General Construction Co.
• Contract Land Staff
• Double Z Construction Co.
• E.S. Wagner Co.
• Eagle Bridge Co.
• Fix Our Roads Ohio (FOR Ohio)
• Flexible Pavements of Ohio
• GPD
• George J. Igel & Co. Inc.
• Gerken Paving Inc.
• The Great Lakes Construction Co.
• Griffin Pavement Striping
• Independence Excavating Inc.
• J.D. Williamson Construction Inc.
• John R. Jurgensen Co.
• K.E. McCartney & Assoc.
• Kokosing Construction Co. Inc.
• Kurtz Bros. Inc.
• Ohio Laborers Union
• Lindy Paving Inc.
• The Mannik & Smith Group Inc.
• Miller Bros. Construction Co.
• ms consultants
• Ohio Aggregates & Industrial Minerals Association
• Ohio CAT
• Ohio Concrete
• Ohio Construction Information Association (OCIA)
• Ohio Council of County Officials
• Ohio Chamber of Commerce
• Ohio County Commissioners Association
• Ohio County Engineers Association
• Ohio Insurance Institute
• Ohio State Building & Construction Trades Council
• Ohio Mayors Alliance
• Ohio Municipal League
• Ohio Township Association
• Paul Peterson Co.
• Prus Construction Co.
• Rietschlin Construction
• The Righter Co. Inc.
• The Ruhlin Co.
• The Shelly Co. (CRH)
• Shelly & Sands Inc.
• Trucco Construction Co. Inc.
• Turn-Key Tunneling Inc.
• U.S. Bridge