Summary of State Ballot Issues on
Tomorrow’s General Election Ballot

Issue 1 – Constitutional Amendment that authorizes State to issue bonds to provide compensation to veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan & Iraq conflicts

• Authorizes the state to issue up to $200 million of bonds to provide eligible veterans of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts $100 per month of active duty service up to a maximum of $1,000 and $50 per month of active duty service up to a maximum of $500 for eligible veterans who served elsewhere during the time of the above-named conflicts.
• The surviving spouse (or in the absence of a surviving spouse, a surviving child or other designated family member) may apply for a survivor’s payment of $5,000.
• The state may issue bonds only for the time period from the effective date of the Constitutional Amendment until December 31, 2013.
• The Ohio Office of Budget & Management has estimated that for each $200 in payments there will be $293.90 in debt service over the 15-year life of the bonds at an average interest rate of 5.25%.

Issue 2 – Constitutional Amendment to create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to establish standards governing the care and well-being of livestock and poultry in this state

• Board shall endeavor to maintain food safety, encourage locally grown and raised food, and protect Ohio farms and families.
• The Board shall consider factors that include, but are not limited to, agricultural best management practices for such care and well-being of livestock and poultry, biosecurity, disease prevention, animal morbidity and mortality data, food safety practices, and the protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers.
• 13 member board comprised of the following members:
• Director of Agriculture
• 10 members appointed by the Governor including one member representing family farms; one member knowledgeable about food safety; two members representing statewide organizations that represent farmers; a veterinarian; the State Veterinarian in the state department that regulates agriculture; the dean of the agricultural department of a college/university located in Ohio; two members of the public representing Ohio consumers and one member representing a county humane society.
• One member appointed by the Speaker of the House and one member appointed by the President of the Senate who both shall be family farmers.
• The Ohio Office of Budget & Management estimates annual operating expenses of the Board to be $176,703 in the first year and $162,280 in subsequent years.

Issue 3 – Constitutional Amendment to allow a total of 4 casinos, one casino each in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo at specifically designated locations

• Levies a fixed tax of 33% of gross revenue by each casino operator of the four casinos.
• Distributes the casino tax as follows:
• 51% among all 88 counties in proportion to their respective populations.  One-half of a county’s distribution will go to the 8 largest cities that have a population above 80,000.
• 34% among all public school districts.
• 5% among the four host cities, i.e. Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.
• 3% to the Ohio Casino Control Commission that will license and regulate the casinos.
• 3% to the Ohio State Racing Commission Fund.
• 2% to a state law enforcement training fund.
• 2% to a state problem gambling and addictions fund.
• Each casino operator shall pay a $50 million fee to be used for state job training purposes and make an initial investment of $250 million in each casino.
• Authorizes approved types of casino gaming authorized by Michigan, West Virginia, Indiana and Pennsylvania as of January 1, 2009 or games subsequently authorized by those states.
•  Authorizes casinos to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week; casinos subject to all state and local laws and provisions related to health and building codes; however, no local zoning or land use laws, or subdivision regulations shall prohibit the development or operation of the casinos at the designated sites.
• The Ohio Department of Taxation projects that the tax on gross casino revenues will generate $643 million in annual tax revenue, but would be reduced to $470 million annually if Video Lottery Terminals at all seven horse race tracks ever become fully operational; 90% of the tax revenues is allocated to local governments and school districts and 10% is allocated to the state for specified purposes.

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