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State representative urges Richmond Heights voters to back Issue 2, outlines workforce and budget concerns
Summary
State Representative Dan Troy urged Richmond Heights residents to vote “yes” on State Issue 2 to renew the Ohio Public Works Commission funding and discussed workforce-development and budget issues affecting local services and schools.
State Representative Dan Troy urged Richmond Heights residents to vote yes on State Issue 2, a constitutional renewal that would authorize the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) to continue selling bonds for local infrastructure projects and increase the bond cap to $2.5 billion over 10 years.
Troy told the Richmond Heights City Council that the current authorization expires July 1, 2025, and said the May ballot measure—placed there by joint sponsors including Troy and Representative Scott Oelslager—would allow the state to issue up to $2.5 billion in bonds over 10 years (about $250 million per year) without raising state taxes. He said local project selection remains at the county/local level and that communities that apply receive points for local matching funds and regional partnerships.
Troy noted the city’s recent OPWC grant awards, including roughly $341,000 toward the $1.3 million Wilson Mills rehabilitation project, and said the program helps smaller communities accelerate infrastructure work rather than delaying projects as costs rise.
On the state budget and workforce topics, Troy criticized aspects of the recently passed budget that he said weaken the fair school funding formula, reduce library funding, and include language that could end Ohio’s Medicaid expansion portion of the program if federal matching funds fall below the current level. He described a failed amendment that sought to remove stadium funding from the bill and said that raised concerns among some legislators.
Troy also reviewed workforce-development provisions retained in the budget, including grants and programs for short-term credentials, technical certificates, and a “Grow Your Own Teachers” scholarship program that offers aid to high school seniors who commit to teaching in underserved Ohio schools for at least four years. He listed colleges and training providers in the region that could qualify for funding, including Cleveland State University, Lakeland Community College, Cuyahoga Community College, Kent State, Bowling Green, and Youngstown State, as well as local career centers.
Council members thanked Troy for the briefing and asked him to encourage turnout on the May ballot. Troy emphasized there is no tax increase associated with Issue 2 and asked the council and residents to remind voters to cast ballots on or before the May election.
