Issue 2
Public Information Notice
Dear Residents of Waynesville,
I want to bring to your attention an important matter that will be on the ballot on May 6th: Issue 2. It will appear as: “Issue 2: To Fund Public Infrastructure Capital Improvements by Permitting the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds,” commonly referred to as the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC).
I want to emphasize that the approval of this renewal will not raise taxes, and I strongly encourage your support. The Ohio Public Works Commission was established in 1987 and must be renewed by voters every ten years. Throughout its history, this program has been renewed three times and has funded nearly 19,000 projects across all 88 counties, investing over $7 billion in our state’s infrastructure.
In the past decade alone, the OPWC has funded 50 projects in Warren County, benefiting all cities, towns, and villages in our area. Government entities have provided approximately $75.8 million in funding, while the OPWC has contributed $25.1 million.
As Village Manager, I have submitted and received funding for about nine OPWC infrastructure projects, resulting in millions of dollars for our community. Currently, we have an ongoing OPWC project that involves replacing waterlines, stormwater lines, lateral lines, and repaving Franklin Road. Additionally, a new project involving waterlines, stormwater lines, lateral lines, and repaving Fourth Street is scheduled to begin in July 2025.
We have significantly benefited from OPWC funding in the past, and we have many future projects planned with this funding in mind. If this renewal is not approved, we will struggle to undertake as many projects, leading to more reliance on local funds for road maintenance and other infrastructure needs.
I am including a fact sheet about this issue for your review. I urge you to support this renewal to help us complete necessary projects throughout the Village. If you have any questions about this issue or its implications for Waynesville, please feel free to contact me at the Village.
Thank you for your attention.
Respectfully,
Chief Copeland
Village Manager
