For many would-be voters, off-year primary elections throughout Ohio tend to be royal yawners. Typically, the number of races and issues on state and local ballots are few and far between. In most years, many communities have absolutely nothing on the ballot.

But the May 6, 2025, primary rises as a big exception to that trend. Every precinct in every nook and cranny of the Buckeye State will be open on Election Day. That’s because the state Ballot Board approved for placement on the spring ballot renewal of state Issue 2.

Voters first approved the State Capital Improvement Program in 1987 after it was carefully crafted by Harry Meshel of Youngstown, former state Senate president and state Democratic Party chairman. Its renewal this year would continue to allow the state to issue up to $2.5 billion in general obligation bonds, or $250 million per year, to assist local governments in funding crucial public infrastructure improvement projects.

Longtime Mahoning County Engineer Pat Ginnetti once called the Issue 2 program the Valley’s “lifeblood” to tackle critically needed infrastructure improvements. As such, Valley voters must not let the program die.

The Vindicator endorses passage of state Issue 2 (there is no state Issue 1 on the ballot) based on its successful four-decade legacy of financing many multi-million dollar road, water, sewer and wastewater plant upgrades throughout the state and throughout the Mahoning Valley.

It’s an investment well worth making for Ohio’s 11 million people, including the 540,000 Valley residents who travel roads, cross bridges and use public-water systems in their communities.

According to the database of the Ohio Public Works Commission, the body that allocates state dollars to local projects, in the current cycle of funding over the past eight years, about 300 road resurfacing, bridge rehabilitation, drainage system improvements, water main replacements, sanitary sewer improvements and wastewater plant upgrades have been tackled in Trumbull and Mahoning counties thanks in large part to OPWC funding

And contrary to some public misconceptions, Issue 2, unlike property tax issues in local communities and school districts, will result in zero increases in taxation. Funds to repay project bonds are already built into state budget planning.

As if massive improvements to our roads, bridges and water systems don’t provide enough evidence to back Issue 2, consider its other selling points. For one, local control over project selection remains paramount. Recommendations to the OPWC come from local members of district committees who know first-hand the infrastructure needs of their communities.

Its funding also benefits cash-strapped local governments, still reeling from the impact of massive losses in Local Government Funds from Columbus in recent years.

In addition, the grants jolt economic development. Projects underwritten by OPWC funds create thousands of construction and related jobs throughout the state.

Issue 2 also has built what many consider unthinkable in the halls of the state Legislature: bipartisanship. The Ohio Senate (by a vote of 30-1) and House (87-4) voted to place the program’s continued existence on this May’s ballot. Such unanimity across party lines is almost unheard of these days of fractured local, state and federal politics.

A wide swath of state and local institutions and government bodies also have rallied around Issue 2. They include the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, the Ohio Township Association, the Ohio Mayors Alliance, the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber and Howland Township trustees.

Despite its myriad selling points, we do have one bone to pick with organizers of this year’s renewal campaign. The timing of the vote in May burdens county boards of elections with the added expenses and work of opening and adequately staffing every single precinct for this statewide issue. Had they chosen to place Issue 2 on the November 2024 or 2025 ballot when general election issues and races are decided in virtually every precinct, those expenses could have been avoided or reduced. Cynics might speculate the timing is designed to better assure a positive outcome from a lighter overall voter turnout.

All cynicism aside, however, Issue 2 stands on solid ground with a sterling record of concrete accomplishments. As such, Ohio voters would be foolish to reject continuation of this critically important public-works program.