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Senate committee hears support for reauthorizing Ohio Public Works bond program
Summary
Senate Finance Committee heard proponent testimony supporting Senate Joint Resolution 4 to reauthorize the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) administered by the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC), proposing a $2.5 billion, 10-year authorization and raising annual bond issuance from $200 million to $250 million. Witnesses stressed local infrastructure needs and inflation pressures; no committee vote was taken.
The Ohio Senate Finance Committee heard widespread proponent testimony supporting Senate Joint Resolution 4 on renewing the State Capital Improvement Program administered by the Ohio Public Works Commission.
Sponsors told the committee SJR 4 would propose amending Section 2T of Article VIII of the Ohio Constitution to allow the state to issue general obligation bonds to fund local infrastructure. The resolution seeks a $625,000,000 increase over current authorization for a total $2,500,000,000 in borrowing authority over a 10-year period and would cap annual bond issuance at $250,000,000. Sponsor testimony said bond retirement would be planned through the state budget and would not require a tax increase.
Linda Baliff, director of the Ohio Public Works Commission, described the program’s structure and impact. She said SCIP and related OPWC programs provide grants, loans and loan assistance for roads, bridges, culverts, water and wastewater systems, stormwater collection and solid-waste disposal. Baliff told the committee the current program has funded 18,858 projects and that proceeds are distributed to OPWC’s 19 districts after statutory set-asides for small governments and emergency needs. “The program is scheduled to sunset on July 1, 2025,” she said, urging timely renewal so projects in the current application round can proceed.
Local officials and infrastructure stakeholders told the committee the program remains central to maintaining and repairing crucial systems. Mike Barhorst, mayor of Sidney and representing the Ohio Municipal League, said municipal budgets face inflation-driven cost overruns and urged placing the measure on the May 6, 2025 ballot so funding is uninterrupted. County engineers and commissioners offered project-level examples: Mahoning County reported 25 miles of roads paved and multiple culvert and sewer projects financed in recent years; Washington County detailed a joint base-stabilization and paving project that combined OPWC grant, loan and local match funds.
Witnesses emphasized the competitive district scoring process and two centrally administered set-asides: a small-government program for villages and rural townships under 5,000 residents, and an emergency program for failed infrastructure threatening public health and safety. John Oliveri of the County Engineers Association of Ohio said the requested $50 million per year increase is intended to offset rising construction costs for steel, asphalt and concrete.
The committee received multiple written proponent testimonies as well. Chairman Dolan closed the SJR 4 hearing after proponent testimony; the committee did not take a formal vote during this meeting.
