Highland County voters to consider issues-only primary ballot this May

The Highland County Board of Elections announced this week that the May 6 primary election will feature an issues-only ballot countywide.

“All candidates who filed and were certified are unopposed, so their names will not appear on the May ballot,” Highland County Board of Elections Director Michelle Swallen said. “They will appear on the November ballot to be voted on.”

There are two issues — one local, one state — that will appear on the ballot for all Highland County voters.

The Highland County Health Department is seeking a proposed replacement and decrease (by half a mill) of two previously existing levies.

A proposed replacement and decrease levy for the Health Department failed in the November 2024 general election. That was proposed as a 0.7-mill, five-year levy, replacing two existing levies and decreasing by 0.3 mill.

The new proposal for voters to consider in May is for one half-mill levy, as the Health Department formerly received revenue through two half-mill levies. According to Health Commissioner Jared Warner and Auditor Alex Butler, the levy would amount to $18 per $100,000 of the county auditor’s appraised value.

Also on the ballot for all Highland County voters is Issue 2, proposed by Joint Resolution of the General Assembly, for a constitutional amendment regarding public infrastructure capital improvements by permitting the issuance of general obligation bonds.

According to the certified explanation, if approved, the “amendment authorizes the State of Ohio to issue general obligation bonds to pay for or help local governments pay for public infrastructure capital improvements. Projects would be limited to roads and bridges, wastewater treatment systems, water supply systems, solid waste disposal facilities and storm water and sanitary collection, storage and treatment facilities, including real property or interests in real property, facilities and equipment related or incidental thereto, and the cost of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, expansion, improvement, planning and equipping.”

The amendment is a renewal of an existing provision “authorizing the State of Ohio to issue bonds to finance public infrastructure capital improvements for local governments through the State Capital Improvements Program.” It includes language to “limit the total principal amount of the state general obligations issued under the amendment to no more than $2.5 billion over a 10-year period.”

If Issue 2 passes, “the amendment would take effect immediately,” the explanation says.

The ballot will also include one tax levy renewal and two local options for certain residents:

• Voters in the Village of Lynchburg will consider a proposed three-mill, five-year tax levy renewal “for the purpose of providing and maintaining motor vehicles, communications, other equipment, buildings, and sites for such buildings used directly in the operation of a police department, or the payment of salaries of permanent or part-time police, communications or administrative personnel.”

• Voters in Marshall Township will determine whether “the sale of wine and mixed beverages, under permits which authorize sale for on-premise consumption only, and under permits which authorize sale for both on-premise and off-premise consumption, [shall] be permitted in Marshall Township.”

• In a separate issue, voters in Marshall Township will also consider whether “the sale of intoxicating liquor, of the same types as may be legally sold in this precinct on other days of the week, [shall] be permitted in this Marshall for consumption on the premises where sold, on Sunday.”

The registration deadline for the primary is April 7, with the Board office open from  8 a.m.-9 p.m. that day. For more information or resources on the primary, visit https://www.boe.ohio.gov/highland/.

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