Business Advocacy Council

Make a Plan to Vote.

• Deadline to register to vote: October 7
• Early Voting and Absentee Voting start on October 8.
• Election Day is Tuesday Nov. 5 (polls open from 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.)

Visit the Secretary of State's Website for voter information.

 

Below you will find information about levies and issues on the upcoming ballot.

Westerville City School Bond and Operating Levy, 4.9 mills

• The Business Advocacy Council and Westerville Area Chamber Board of Trustees have voted to support the levy. Anyone living in the Westerville City School District will have the opportunity to vote on this levy. Read more here.

 

Westerville Public Library Levy, .75 mills

• The Business Advocacy Council and Westerville Area Chamber Board of Trustees have voted to support the levy. Anyone living in the Westerville City School District will have the opportunity to vote on this levy. Read more here.

 

Genoa Township Fire/EMS Levy, 7.00 mills

• Is intended to provide financial support for fire protection and emergency medical services, including maintaining and upgrading equipment, facilities, and personnel.
• Would be a replacement of the current 5.3 mill levy
• If approved, the levy will collect approximately $11,499,000 annually. For a property valued at $100,000, this translates to about $244 per year.
• The levy will be in effect on a continuous basis, starting in 2024, with the first collection due in 2025.

Anyone living in Genoa Township will have the opportunity to vote on this levy. Please refer to this article for more information.

 

Genoa Township Roads and Bridges Levy, 1.89 mills (replacement and a decrease)

• This is a replacement of a portion of an existing levy, being a reduction of 0.21 mills to constitute a tax for the benefit of Genoa Township
• The levy, is passed, will support a variety of work, including repaving, asphalt and concrete repairs, culvert and storm sewer maintenance, repair and upkeep of ADA ramps in the road right of way, removal of fallen trees and debris, roadside mowing, and snow removal; this work is funded through a voter-approved levy which will expire December 31, 2024.

Anyone living in Genoa Township will have the opportunity to vote on this levy. Please refer to this article for more information.

 

COTA LinkUS Levy (Issue 47)

The COTA LinkUS levy is a proposed sales tax increase aimed at improving public transportation in the Columbus area. If approved by voters, the levy would raise COTA’s share of the local sales tax from 0.5% to 1%, generating an estimated $6.2 billion by the year 2050. Anyone living in Franklin County and portions of Delaware, Fairfield, Licking, and Union Counties will have the opportunity to vote on the levy

The funds would be used to:

• Build three rapid transit bus lines by 2030, with additional lines planned.
• Expand regular bus services by 45%
• Enhance their version of a rideshare program.
• Develop over 500 miles of bike paths, sidewalks, and trails across Franklin County by 2050.
  • Westerville Benefits:
    • Sidewalks and shared-use paths in the Brooksedge area
    • Hanby Park Trail connector to Uptown Westerville
    • Dempsey Road shared-use path.

Please refer to this article for more information.

 

State Issue 1

State Issue 1 aims to change Ohio’s redistricting process, shifting the responsibility from political figures to a 15-member panel of citizens, including Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. The panel will be selected by retired judges who choose six members, and these six will then select the remaining nine members to serve in equal standing.

You can view the full text of State Issue 1 here (including the Argument For Issue 1 and the Argument Against Issue 1).