OH Senate OKs Effort To Renew Public Works Program

State senators have passed a resolution to renew a public works program that funds improvements to Ohio roads, bridges and other local infrastructure needs. The resolution would ask voters to approve a 10-year renewal of the State Capital Improvement Program. The proposal would increase the bond funding levels to $175 million annually for the first five years and then $200 million each year for the remaining five years. Supporters hope the measure will clear the Legislature by the end of this month, so it can appear before voters on May ballots. Voters previously approved the program in 1987, 1995 and 2005. A Democratic amendment to authorize additional money for the program failed to gain Senate support. But the measure passed on a 31-0 vote and now goes to the House.