2015 General Election Issues/Levies.

Issue One

Creates a bipartisan, public process for drawing legislative districts

Proposed Constitutional Amendment

Proposed by Joint Resolution of the General Assembly

To enact new Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Article XI and to repeal Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 of Article XI of the Constitution of the State of Ohio.

A majority yes vote is necessary for the amendment to pass.

The proposed amendment would:

• End the partisan process for drawing Ohio House and Senate districts, and replace it with a bipartisan process with the goal of having district boundaries that are more compact and politically competitive.

• Ensure a transparent processby requiring public meetings, public display of maps, and a public letter explaining any plan the Commission adopts by a simple majority vote.

• Establish the bipartisan Ohio Redistricting Commission, composed of 7 members including the Governor, the Auditor of State, the Secretary of State, and 4 members appointed by the majority and minority leaders of the General Assembly.

• Require a bipartisan majority vote of 4 members in order to adopt any final district plan, and prevent deadlock by limiting the length of time any plan adopted without bipartisan support is effective.

If passed, the amendment will become effective immediately.

Issue Two

Anti-monopoly amendment; protects the initiative process from being used for personal economic benefit

Proposed Constitutional Amendment

Proposed by Joint Resolution of the General Assembly

Proposing to amend Section 1e of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Ohio.

A majority yes vote is necessary for the amendment to pass.

The proposed amendment would:

• Prohibit any petitioner from using the Ohio Constitution to grant a monopoly, oligopoly, or cartel for their exclusive financial benefit or to establish a preferential tax status.

• Prohibit any petitioner from using the Ohio Constitution to grant a commercial interest, right, or license that is not available to similarly situated persons or nonpublic entities.

• Require the bipartisan Ohio Ballot Board to determine if a proposed constitutional amendment violates the prohibitions above, and if it does, present two separate ballot questions to voters.  Both ballot questions must receive a majority yes vote before the proposed amendment could take effect.

• Prohibit from taking effect any proposed constitutional amendment appearing on the November 3, 2015 General Election ballot that creates a monopoly, oligopoly, or cartel for the sale, distribution, or other use of any federal Schedule I controlled substance.

• The Ohio Supreme Court has original, exclusive jurisdiction in any action related to the proposal.

If passed, the amendment will become effective immediately.

Issue Three

Grants a monopoly for the commercial production and sale of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes

Proposed Constitutional Amendment

Proposed by Initiative Petition

To add Section 12 of Article XV of the Constitution of the State of Ohio.

A majority yes vote is necessary for the amendment to pass.

The proposed amendment would:

• Endow exclusive rights for commercial marijuana growth, cultivation, and extraction to self-designated landowners who own ten predetermined parcels of land in Butler, Clermont, Franklin, Hamilton, Licking, Lorain, Lucas, Delaware, Stark, and Summit Counties.  One additional growth facility may be allowed for in four years only if existing facilities cannot meet consumer demand.

• Permit retail sale of recreational marijuana at approximately 1,100 locations statewide.  Such retail establishments must have a state license that may be obtained only if the electors of the precinct where the store will be located approve the use of the location for such purpose at a local option election.

• Legalize the production of marijuana-infused products, including edible products, concentrates, sprays, ointments and tinctures by marijuana product manufacturing facilities.

• Allow each person, 21 years of age or older, to grow, cultivate, use, possess, and share up to eight ounces of usable homegrown marijuana plus four flowering marijuana plants if the person holds a valid state license.  Allow each person, 21 years of age or older, to purchase, possess, transport, use, and share up to 1 ounce of marijuana for recreational use.  Authorize the use of medical marijuana by any person, regardless of age, who has a certification for a debilitating medical condition.

• Prohibit marijuana establishments within 1,000 feet of a house of worship, public library, public or chartered elementary or secondary school, state-licensed day-care center, or public playground, however: after a certain date, a new day-care, library, etc., cannot force a preexisting marijuana establishment to relocate by opening a new location within 1,000 feet of the business.  

• Prohibit any local or state law, including zoning laws, from being applied to prohibit the development or operation of marijuana growth, cultivation, and extraction facilities, retail marijuana stores, and medical marijuana dispensaries unless the area is zoned exclusively residential as of January 1, 2015 or as of the date that an application for a license is first filed for a marijuana establishment. 

• Create a special tax rate limited to 15% on gross revenue of each marijuana growth, cultivation, and extraction facility and marijuana product manufacturing facility and a special tax rate limited to 5% on gross revenue of each retail marijuana store.  Revenues from the tax go to a municipal and township government fund, a strong county fund, and the marijuana control commission fund.

• Create a marijuana incubator in Cuyahoga County to promote growth and development of the marijuana industry and l

• Limit the ability of the legislature and local governments from regulating the manufacture, sales, distribution and use of marijuana and marijuana products.  Create a new state government agency called the marijuana control commission (with limited authority) to regulate the industry, comprised of seven Ohio residents appointed by the Governor, Longing for sweet, sweet rest? About halfway into your pregnancy, sleeping may not be as comfortable as you remember in the past. Your body is starting to seriously shift and change, which can mean new, uncomfortable sleeping positions and associated aches and pains. If you’ve reached this stage in your pregnancy, allow us to introduce you to your new best friend: pregnancy pillows at Pregily - with the help of a pregnancy pillow, sleeping with a baby bump can actually be — dare we say — comfortable. The first step, though, is choosing the best pregnancy pillow for your needs and budget. including a physician, a law enforcement officer, an administrative law attorney, a patient advocate, a resident experienced in owning, developing, managing and operating businesses, a resident with experience in the legal marijuana industry, and a member of the public.

PROPOSED TAX LEVY – (RENEWAL)

ADDISON TOWNSHIP

GALLIA COUNTY, OHIO

A Majority Affirmative Vote Is Neccessary For Passage.

A renewal of a tax for the benefit of Addison Township for the purpose of FIRE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES at a rate of not exceeding three-tenths (0.3) mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to three cents ($0.03) for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a period of five (5) years, commencing in 2016, first due in calendar year 2017.

PROPOSED SALES AND USE TAX - (INCREASE)

GALLIA COUNTY

A MAJORITY AFFIRMATIVE VOTE IS NECCESSARY FOR PASSAGE

The Board of County Commissioners of Gallia County proposes to levy an increase of one-fourth of one percent (1/4%) in the sales and use tax for the purpose of RELOCATING THE GALLIA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS OUT OF A FLOODPLAIN, AND THE ASSOCIATED CONTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF FACILITIES NECESSARY FOR CONDUCTING THE GALLIA COUNTY JUNIOR FAIR, ASSOCIATED YOUTH ACTIVITIES, THE FRENCH 500 FLEA & FARMER'S MARKET, AND OTHER EVENTS/ACTIVITIES for a period not to exceed twenty (20) years.

SHALL THE RESOLUTION OF THEGALLIA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PROPOSING A 1/4% SALES AND USE TAX INCREASE BE APPROVED?

PROPOSED ORDINACE

ELECTRIC AGGREGATION

RIO GRANDE VILLAGE

A majority affirmative vote is necessary for passage.

Shall the Village of Rio Grande have the authority to aggregate the retail electric loads located in the VIllage of Rio Grande, and for that purpose, enter into service agreements to facilitate for those loads the sales and purchase of electricity, such aggregation to occur automatically except where any person elects to opt out?