Columbus mayor, council unveil $1.9 billion municipal bond package for November ballot

Mayor announced a proposed $1.9 billion municipal bond package on the site of the future Fire Station 36, saying the measure would be placed on the November ballot and that, if approved by voters, the city would use proceeds to finance infrastructure across neighborhoods without raising taxes.

The mayor said the bond package would be split among five categories: $500 million for affordable housing; $500 million for public utilities (water, sewer and power); $400 million for streets, highways and refuse collection; $250 million for public safety, health and infrastructure; and $250 million for parks and recreation. He said $17 million in prior voter-approved bonds is already funding construction at Fire Station 36, which is scheduled for completion in March 2026 "as long as it stops raining between now and March 2026." The mayor emphasized, "I wanna emphasize this is not a tax increase."

The package would be funded by issuing voter-approved general obligation bonds and repaid from the Special Income Tax (SIT) fund, the mayor said,…