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- State Issue 1
To enact Section 2 of Article VIII of the Ohio Constitution pertaining to environmental and related conservation, preservation, and revitalization purposes
- To adopt Section 20 of Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Ohio. This proposed amendment would:
1. Authorize the state to issue bonds and other obligations to pay the
costs of projects for environmental conservation and revitalization
purposes.
2. Specify "conservation purposes" as meaning the conservation
and preservation of natural areas, open spaces, and farmlands and
other lands devoted to agriculture, including by acquiring land or
interests therein; the provision of state and local park and recreation
facilities, and other actions that permit and enhance the availability,
public use, and enjoyment of natural areas and open spaces in Ohio;
and land, forest, water and other natural resource management
projects.
3. Specify "revitalization purposes" as meaning providing for and
enabling the environmentally safe and productive development and
use or reuse of publicly and privately owned lands, including those
within urban areas, by the remediation or clean up of contamination;
and addressing by clearance, land acquisition or otherwise,
contamination or other property conditions or circumstances that
might be deleterious to the public health and safety and the
environment and water and other natural resources, or that preclude
or inhibit environmentally sound or economic use of the property.
4. Limit the total outstanding principal amount of all state
obligations issued for conservation purposes, which shall be general
obligations of the state backed by the full faith and credit, revenue,
and taxing power of the state, to two hundred million dollars
($200,000,000) and the principal amount of all new obligations
issued within a single fiscal year to fifty million dollars
($50,000,000) plus the principal amount of obligations that in any
prior fiscal year could have been but were not issued within the fifty
million dollar ($50,000,000) fiscal year limit.
5. Limit the total outstanding principal amount of all state
obligations issued for revitalization purposes, which shall not be
general obligations of the state and shall not be backed by the full
faith and credit, revenue, and taxing power of the state but which
would be secured by a pledge of designated state revenues and
receipts as the General Assembly authorizes, to two hundred million
dollars ($200,000,000) and the principal amount of all new
obligations issued within a single fiscal year to fifty million dollars
($50,000,000) plus the principal amount of obligations that in any
prior fiscal year could have been but were not issued within the fifty
million dollar ($50,000,000) fiscal year limit.
6. Require that the obligations mature no later than December 31 of
the twenty-fifth (25th) calendar year after issuance, except that
obligations issued to refund or retire other obligations must mature
no later than December 31 of the twenty-fifth (25th) calendar year
after the year in which the original obligation to pay was issued or
entered into.
7. Determine and confirm that state and local governmental
participation in and financial assistance to environmental and related
conservation, preservation and revitalization projects are public
purposes, authorize the state to participate or assist in the financing
of those projects undertaken by local governmental entities or by
others, including not-for-profit organizations, and specify that these
activities would not be subject to the lending aid and credit
prohibitions of Sections 4 and 6 of Article VIII of the Ohio
Constitution.
If adopted, this amendment shall take immediate effect.
A majority yes vote is necessary for passage.
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