BY MICHAEL HAWTHORNE
Enquirer Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS -- Lost in the heated debate about Issue 2 is another school-related ballot initiative that both sides support.
Issue 1 would amend the Ohio Constitution to allow the state to issue general obligation bonds for school construction and repairs, up to an amount equal to 5 percent of the state budget.
If voters approve, the state could save up to $1 million in interest costs for every $1 billion in bonds issued, according to the non-partisan Legislative Budget Office (LBO).
"Anytime you can reduce your borrowing costs, it frees up money for other things," said Donald Berno, president of the Ohio Public Expenditure Council, a non-partisan group that studies the state economy and tax structure.
In this case, state leaders say the savings could be used to finance more school improvements.
Even though lawmakers have earmarked more than $800 million to refurbish school buildings during the past seven years, a 1996 federal study found that Ohio had the worst school facilities of the 50 states.
An LBO study last year estimated that $16.5 billion is needed to repair school buildings and replace ones that cannot be fixed. State lawmakers put the proposed amendment on the ballot as part of their response to an Ohio Supreme Court decision last year that declared the state's school-funding system inadequate and unconstitutional.
Among other things, the 4-3 decision decried the abysmal condition of some buildings and ordered lawmakers to better finance construction and repair needs.
If Issue 2 fails, it's unclear whether the opposition could also drag down the non-controversial Issue 1.
The most recent Ohio Poll found that 51 percent of likely voters support Issue 1, while 27 percent oppose it and 23 percent are undecided. The poll of 633 likely voters, sponsored by the Enquirer and the University of Cincinnati, was conducted April 13-21. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.
