News
September 16, 2009 - Chamber takes a stand on ballot issues - Chooses to support Issue 6!
The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, the region's largest business organization, Tuesday announced its position on seven state and local ballot issues that will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The chamber endorsed these proposals:
• State Issue 3, the Ohio Jobs and Growth Plan, which would amend the state's constitution to bring casino gambling to Ohio by authorizing a single casino in the cities of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.
• The Cincinnati Public Schools levy, a renewal of an operating tax levy that accounts for $65 million of the district's $467 million budget.
• The Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County levy, a first-ever tax levy to compensate for an annual funding shortfall between $16 million and $30 million in the library's 2010 budget.
• The Cincinnati Museum Center levy, a renewal of a tax levy to provide funding for occupancy costs and maintenance of Union Terminal in Queensgate.
• The Hamilton County Family Services and Treatment levy, a renewal of a tax levy to fund program alternatives to incarceration for drug and alcohol offenders.
• The Hamilton County Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities levy, a renewal of a tax levy to fund programs serving individuals and families with range of medical, social and educational challenges.
The chamber opposes two proposals:
• The Cincinnati Water Works ballot initiative, which would amend the City of Cincinnati's charter to require a popular vote of approval before the city could transition the Cincinnati Water Works to a regional water district.
• The Passenger Rail Ballot Initiative, which would amend the charter to require a popular vote before the city could spend any money or resources on all passenger rail projects, including light rail, street car and passenger train service.
The chamber's board accepted the recommendations on these proposals from its policy and ballot issues committee, a group of local business leaders.
The group had previously announced its stands on the casino and rail proposals.