MOUNT VERNON — Apple Valley Drive improvements, a water line in Martinsburg, and township culvert replacements are among the projects local officials completed using money from the State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP).
State Issue 2 seeks to renew the program dedicated to funding public infrastructure and capital improvement projects throughout Ohio.
Voters first established the funding in 1987. State law requires citizens to vote on renewing the program every 10 years. The renewal is on the May 6 special election ballot.
Issue 2 allows the state to issue up to $250 million annually in bonds or up to $2.5 billion over the next 10 years. The current cap is $200 million.
Advocates say renewing the program will not increase taxes because the legislature has included money to repay the bonds into the state’s budget. Several legislators prepared the official ballot statement supporting the issue.
Opponents argue Issue 2 increases Ohio’s debt and takes 30 years to repay. The Ohio Ballot Board prepared the official argument against the issue.
The Ohio Public Works Commission administers the SCIP through grants and zero- or low-interest loans.
The legislature reserves $20 million of the SCIP money for the Small Government Program (SGP). The SGP approves projects for villages and townships with populations less than 5,000.
Local impact of SCIP
Since the program’s inception in 1987, Knox County has received more than $42.6 million in funding.
All the villages, the City of Mount Vernon, and 21 townships have benefited from the SCIP.
According to data compiled by County Commissioner Bill Pursel, the first entities to receive grants in Knox County in 1987 were the City of Mount Vernon, Knox County engineer, Centerburg, Danville, and Union Township.
The amount received was $698,610.70.
SCIP has funded county projects such as extending the Millwood sewer, replacing the Parrot Street and Snively Road bridges, resurfacing Sycamore Road, and improving Apple Valley Drive.
“OPWC funds are critical to all local governments,” Knox County Engineer Cameron Keaton said.
“[These projects] would not have been possible without the funds or delayed years applying for federal grant funds.
“Most federal grant funds are not available for use until five years after the award. The majority of our county roads are not eligible for the federal grant funds.”
Roads must be classified as a federal secondary route or higher to use federal funds.
“The county as a whole has benefited from the bond issue with the state,” Pursel said.
The 2009 Vernonview/Wooster Road water line, Mansfield Avenue traffic signal, and South Gay Street improvements are among the city’s SCIP projects.
Mount Vernon City Council passed a resolution supporting Issue 2 at its March 10 meeting.
“If we don’t say yes to this, it goes away, and we we cut ourselves off from future revenue streams,” Mayor Matt Starr said in his State-of-the-City address.
“This is particularly important to townships because townships do not receive [Ohio Department of Transportation] funds like cities do.”
Pending SCIP projects
Keaton noted the SCIP grants are competitive within the OPWC Districts. Local officials within each district evaluate the projects.
Knox County has six projects pending approval with the OPWC:
Clinton Township: Crystal Avenue water main extension
Knox County engineer: Mishey Road resurfacing KNO-CR 55
Fredericktown: 2025 street improvements
Morris Township: McKenzie Road upgrade
Milford Township: Webster Road improvements
College Township: Porter Road widening and resurfacing
These projects are part of the current grant cycle from July 2016 to July 2024.