On Tuesday, voters approved Columbus鈥� bond package, which provides $1.9 billion in public funds for affordable housing and improvements to parks, public safety, water and sewer line improvements and street resurfacing and bridge repairs.
Unofficial results from the Franklin County Board of Elections show each of the five issues winning handily.
Through the passage of Issues 5-9, the city can borrow money for specific improvements.
The city uses 25 cents of every income tax dollar collected to repay the debt.
The city says the money will be used this way:
- Neighborhood development/affordable housing: $500 million
- Public utilities (water lines, sewer improvements, power infrastructure): $500 million
- Public service (sidewalks, street resurfacing, bridge repairs, recycling equipment): $400 million
- Recreation and parks (community centers, parks, pools, street trees): $250 million
- Safety, health and infrastructure (police and fire stations, fire truck, municipal court): $250 million
"The people of Columbus have lit a candle tonight," Mayor Andrew Ginther said at a Democratic gathering at Strongwater in Franklinton. "They said let's make the biggest investment in our city's history."
As of Oct. 15, fewer than three dozen donors contributed almost $600,000 to the Opportunity City political action committee to pay for TV ads and mailers.
Donors included Cleveland Browns and Columbus Crew owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, Les Wexner's New Albany Company, Connect Realty鈥檚 Brad DeHays, Woda Cooper Companies and others.
Many of the companies are the usual recipients who get public funds and contracts with the city to build housing projects and other large developments throughout the city, and stand to benefit from future projects.
Voters approved similar bond packages in 2022, 2019, 2016 and 2013.
