Central Ohio cast ballots on more than 80 local issues

Worthington’s city pools are getting a major upgrade as voters approve a $0.94 million city levy to replace an aging outdoor pool. But the same cannot be said for Delaware’s city streets, as voters rejected raising the city’s income tax to fund the paving and maintenance of neighborhood streets and complete capital improvement projects.

Voters in central Ohio counties were divided more than 80 provincial and municipal issues on the ballot as communities sought increases, replacements or renewals of levies for police, fire and ambulance services, street and road repairs or general business revenue.

Numerous referendums also asked residents about changes to village rights, whether they wanted to participate in electricity or natural gas aggregation and other issues.

Here are highlights of key state and local issues on the Nov. 5 ballot in central Ohio:

Worthington Swimming Pool Complex 0.94 million levy

With all 15 precincts reporting, Worthington voters supported the bond issue for a new pool complex by 53% to 47%, according to unofficial results from the Franklin County Board of Elections.

Worthington requested a $0.94 million, twenty-year bond issue to finance the replacement of the outdated outdoor pool with a new facility, at an estimated cost of $11.4 million. The measure would cost property owners $33 for every $100,000 of county auditor’s assessed value, starting in 2024, with the first payment in 2025.

In recent weeks, Swiminc, which long operated the city-owned facility, has come under scrutiny after the American Red Cross has terminated an agreement with one of the pool’s lifeguard instructors and revoked the certifications of those she taught as a result of a performance audit. Lifeguards who lost their certifications were retrained.

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Delaware 0.45% income tax increase

With all 31 counties reporting, voters decisively rejected the income tax increase by 64% to 36%, according to unofficial results from the Delaware County Board of Elections.

The city of Delaware wanted a 0.45% increase in income taxes. with the city rate being increased from 1.85% to 2.30%. The increase would have generated $7.6 million in new revenue annually to pave and maintain neighborhood streets and complete capital improvement projects in local parks and city buildings.

If the levy had passed, within six years, Delaware would have paved 50 miles of neighborhood streets and alleys, paved and maintained the city’s 20 miles of multi-use trails, renovated the Jack Florance Pool, made repairs to the justice center and have completed countless other projects. Shipping reported earlier.

Franklin Township 14.66 mill fire tax

With all six precincts reporting, Franklin Township’s fire levy fell short, with voters rejecting it 52% to 48%, according to Franklin County’s unofficial results.

Voters in Franklin Township, southwest of Columbus, voted in favor of an additional $14.66 million levy to fund the fire system — the largest request in central Ohio. It would have cost property owners $513 for every $100,000 of the county auditor’s assessed value, for a rolling period beginning in 2024.

The Dispatch previously reported that the failure of the levy would mean 16 of the 39 full-time firefighters would be unemployed and one of the council’s two fire stations would close.

Johnstown 1.25% income tax increase

For the second time, Johnstown voters handily defeated an income tax increase, with voters rejecting it 64% to 36%, with all Licking County precincts reporting according to the Licking County Board of Elections’ unofficial results.

Licking County is expected to grow thanks to Intel’s Johnstown semiconductor plant tried again pass a increase in income tax from 1% to 2.25% for those who work in the city. Johnstown residents who worked outside the city would have received a permanent 75% tax credit for taxes paid to other municipalities.

City officials also created an assistance program to provide a $250 rebate check at the end of each year to those who live and work in Johnstown and earn between $20,000 and $75,000 annually. The rebate program would have lasted five years, but the council could vote to extend it, the Newark Advocate previously reported.

Two-thirds of the money – an estimated $1.3 million per year – would have been spent on road improvements. Police and security would have received 10% to 18%, or about $300,000. City operations also would have received 10% to 18%. According to The Advocate’s previous reporting, parks, trails and urban beautification would have seen 4% to 10% declines.

Fairfield County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board renewal fee

The Fairfield County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board renewal levy was headed for a win, with voters supporting it 58% to 42% with all 111 counties reporting, according to unofficial results from the Fairfield County Board of Elections.

Fairfield County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board, which is responsible for substance abuse and mental health care in the county, was seeking to renew a levy of 0.75 million euros for 10 years.

The levy will continue to cost property owners $13 per year per $100,000 of property value, as determined by the county auditor’s office, The Dispatch previously reported.

Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities Operating levy of 1.1 mill

With all 50 precincts reporting, the levy narrowly won 51% to 49% — a difference of 558 votes, according to unofficial results from the Union County Board of Elections.

The Union County Board of Developmental Disabilities requested a new $1.1 million seven-year operating levy to support programs and services, including preschool services at the Harold Lewis Center. If approved, property owners would pay $38.33 per year for every $100,000 of the county auditor’s assessed value, according to The Dispatch.

For results on all provincial and municipal issues, visit Dispatch’s results pages for each province:

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