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Chapter 351 | Convention Facilities Authorities

 
 
 
Section
Section 351.01 | Convention facilities authority definitions.
 

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Convention facilities authority" means a body corporate and politic created pursuant to section 351.02 of the Revised Code.

(B) "Governmental agency" means a department, division, or other unit of the state government or of a municipal corporation, county, township, or other political subdivision of the state; any state university or college, as defined in section 3345.12 of the Revised Code, community college, state community college, university branch, or technical college; any other public corporation or agency having the power to acquire, construct, or operate facilities; the United States or any agency thereof; and any agency, commission, or authority established pursuant to an interstate compact or agreement.

(C) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership, association, or corporation, or any combination of them.

(D) "Facility" or "facilities" means any convention, entertainment, or sports facility, or combination of them, located within the territory of the convention facilities authority, together with all hotels, parking facilities, walkways, and other auxiliary facilities, real and personal property, property rights, easements and interests that may be appropriate for, or used in connection with, the operation of the facility.

(E) "Cost" means the cost of acquisition of all land, rights-of-way, property rights, easements, franchise rights, and interests required for such acquisition; the cost of demolishing or removing any buildings or structures on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which such buildings or structures may be moved; the cost of acquiring or constructing and equipping a principal office of the convention facilities authority; the cost of diverting highways, interchange of highways, access roads to private property, including the cost of land or easements for such access roads; the cost of public utility and common carrier relocation or duplication; the cost of all machinery, furnishings, and equipment; financing charges; interest prior to and during construction and for no more than eighteen months after completion of construction; expenses of research and development with respect to facilities; legal expenses; expenses of obtaining plans, specifications, engineering surveys, studies, and estimates of cost and revenues; working capital; expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of acquiring or constructing such facility; administrative expense; and such other expenses as may be necessary or incident to the acquisition or construction of the facility, the financing of such acquisition or construction, including the amount authorized in the resolution of the convention facilities authority providing for the issuance of convention facilities authority revenue bonds to be paid into any special funds from the proceeds of such bonds, the cost of issuing the bonds, and the financing of the placing of such facility in operation. Any obligation, cost, or expense incurred by any governmental agency or person for surveys, borings, preparation of plans and specifications, and other engineering services, or any other cost described above, in connection with the acquisition or construction of a facility may be regarded as part of the cost of such facility and may be reimbursed out of the proceeds of convention facilities authority revenue bonds as authorized by this chapter.

(F) "Owner" includes a person having any title or interest in any property, rights, easements, or interests authorized to be acquired by Chapter 351. of the Revised Code.

(G) "Revenues" means all rentals and other charges received by the convention facilities authority for the use or services of any facility, the sale of any merchandise, or the operation of any concessions; any gift or grant received with respect to any facility, any moneys received with respect to the lease, sublease, sale, including installment sale or conditional sale, or other disposition of a facility or part thereof; moneys received in repayment of and for interest on any loans made by the authority to a person or governmental agency, whether from the United States or any department, administration, or agency thereof, or otherwise; proceeds of convention facilities authority revenue bonds to the extent the use thereof for payment of principal or of premium, if any, or interest on the bonds is authorized by the authority; proceeds from any insurance, appropriation, or guaranty pertaining to a facility or property mortgaged to secure bonds or pertaining to the financing of the facility; income and profit from the investment of the proceeds of convention facilities authority revenue bonds or of any revenues; contributions of the proceeds of a tax levied pursuant to division (C) of section 5739.09 of the Revised Code; and moneys transmitted to the authority pursuant to division (B) of section 5739.211 and division (B) of section 5741.031 of the Revised Code.

(H) "Public roads" includes all public highways, roads, and streets in the state, whether maintained by the state, county, city, township, or other political subdivision.

(I) "Construction," unless the context indicates a different meaning or intent, includes, but is not limited to, reconstruction, enlargement, improvement, or providing fixtures, furnishings, and equipment.

(J) "Convention facilities authority revenue bonds" or "revenue bonds," unless the context indicates a different meaning or intent, includes convention facilities authority revenue notes, convention facilities authority revenue renewal notes, and convention facilities authority revenue refunding bonds.

(K) "Convention facilities authority tax anticipation bonds" or "tax anticipation bonds," unless the context indicates a different meaning, includes convention facilities authority tax anticipation bonds, tax anticipation notes, tax anticipation renewal notes, and tax anticipation refunding bonds.

(L) "Bonds and notes" means convention facilities authority revenue bonds and convention facilities authority tax anticipation bonds.

(M) "Territory of the authority" means all of the area of the county creating the convention facilities authority.

(N) "Excise taxes" means any of the taxes levied pursuant to division (B) or (C) of section 351.021 of the Revised Code. "Excise taxes" does not include taxes levied pursuant to section 4301.424, 5743.026, or 5743.324 of the Revised Code.

(O) "Transaction" means the charge by a hotel for each occupancy by transient guests of a room or suite of rooms used in a hotel as a single unit for any period of twenty-four hours or less.

(P) "Hotel" and "transient guests" have the same meanings as in section 5739.01 of the Revised Code.

(Q) "Sports facility" means a facility intended to house major league professional athletic teams.

(R) "Constructing" or "construction" includes providing fixtures, furnishings, and equipment.

Section 351.02 | Creating convention facilities authority.
 

A county may create a convention facilities authority by resolution of the county commissioners, provided that in no case shall the same county create more than one convention facilities authority. A convention facilities authority created pursuant to this section is a body corporate and politic which may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, and has the powers and jurisdiction enumerated in this chapter. The exercise by an authority of the powers conferred upon it shall be deemed to be essential governmental functions of this state but no authority is immune from liability by reason thereof.

Section 351.021 | Levying excise taxes on lodging transactions.
 

(A) The resolution of the county commissioners creating a convention facilities authority, or any amendment or supplement to that resolution, may authorize the authority to levy one or both of the excise taxes authorized by division (B) of this section to pay the cost of one or more facilities; to pay principal, interest, and premium on convention facilities authority tax anticipation bonds issued to pay those costs; to pay the operating costs of the authority; to pay operating and maintenance costs of those facilities; and to pay the costs of administering the excise tax.

(B) The board of directors of a convention facilities authority that has been authorized pursuant to resolution adopted, amended, or supplemented by the board of county commissioners pursuant to division (A) of this section may levy, by resolution adopted on or before December 31, 1988, either or both of the following:

(1) Within the territory of the authority, an additional excise tax not to exceed four per cent on each transaction. The excise tax authorized by division (B)(1) of this section shall be in addition to any excise tax levied pursuant to section 5739.08 or 5739.09 of the Revised Code, or division (B)(2) of this section.

(2) Within that portion of any municipal corporation that is located within the territory of the authority or within the boundaries of any township that is located within the territory of the authority, which municipal corporation or township is levying any portion of the excise tax authorized by division (A) of section 5739.08 of the Revised Code, and with the approval, by ordinance or resolution, of the legislative authority of that municipal corporation or township, an additional excise tax not to exceed nine-tenths of one per cent on each transaction. The excise tax authorized by division (B)(2) of this section may be levied only if, on the effective date of the levy specified in the resolution making the levy, the amount being levied pursuant to division (A) of section 5739.08 of the Revised Code by each municipal corporation or township in which the tax authorized by division (B)(2) of this section will be levied, when added to the amount levied under division (B)(2) of this section, does not exceed three per cent on each transaction. The excise tax authorized by division (B)(2) of this section shall be in addition to any excise tax that is levied pursuant to section 5739.08 or 5739.09 of the Revised Code, or division (B)(1) of this section.

(C)(1) The board of directors of a convention facilities authority that is located in an eligible Appalachian county; that has been authorized pursuant to resolution adopted, amended, or supplemented by the board of county commissioners pursuant to division (A) of this section; and that is not levying a tax under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section may levy within the territory of the authority, by resolution adopted on or before December 31, 2005, an additional excise tax not to exceed three per cent on each transaction. The excise tax authorized under division (C)(1) of this section shall be in addition to any excise tax levied pursuant to section 5739.08 or 5739.09 of the Revised Code.

As used in division (C)(1) of this section, "eligible Appalachian county" means a county in this state designated as being in the "Appalachian region" under the "Appalachian Regional Development Act of 1965," 79 Stat. 4, 40 U.S.C. App. 403, and having a population less than eighty thousand according to the most recent federal decennial census.

(2) Division (C)(2) of this section applies only to a convention facilities authority located in a county with a population, according to the 2000 federal decennial census, of at least one hundred thirty-five thousand and not more than one hundred fifty thousand and containing entirely within its boundaries the territory of a municipal corporation with a population according to that census of more than fifty thousand. The board of directors of such a convention facilities authority, by resolution adopted on or before November 1, 2009, may levy within the territory of the authority an excise tax on transactions by which lodging by a hotel is or is to be furnished to transient guests at a rate not to exceed three per cent on such transactions for the same purposes for which a tax may be levied under division (B) of this section. The resolution may be adopted only if the board of county commissioners of the county, by resolution, authorizes the levy of the tax. The resolution of the board of county commissioners is subject to referendum as prescribed by sections 305.31 to 305.41 of the Revised Code. If, pursuant to those procedures, a referendum is to be held, the board's resolution does not take effect until approved by a majority of electors voting on the question. The convention facilities authority may adopt the resolution authorized by division (C)(2) of this section before the election, but the authority's resolution shall not take effect if the board of commissioners' resolution is not approved at the election. A tax levied under division (C)(2) of this section is in addition to any tax levied under section 5739.09 of the Revised Code.

The board of directors of a convention facilities authority that levies an excise tax under division (C)(2) of this section may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the members of the board on or before November 1, 2021, amend the resolution levying the tax to increase the rate of the tax by not more than an additional one per cent on each transaction. The resolution shall provide that all revenue from the increase in rate shall be used for the same purposes for which a tax may be levied under division (B) of this section. The resolution may be adopted only if the board of county commissioners of the county, by resolution, authorizes the rate increase.

(3) The board of directors of a convention facilities authority created between July 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019, by resolution adopted on or before December 30, 2020, may levy within the territory of the authority an excise tax on transactions by which lodging by a hotel is or is to be furnished to transient guests at a rate not to exceed three per cent on such transactions for the purposes described in division (A) of this section. This tax shall be in addition to any excise tax levied pursuant to this section or section 5739.08 or 5739.09 of the Revised Code. The resolution levying the tax shall not take effect sooner than ninety days after the convention facilities authority is created.

(D) The authority shall provide for the administration and allocation of an excise tax levied pursuant to division (B) or (C) of this section. All receipts arising from those excise taxes shall be expended for the purposes provided in, and in accordance with this section and section 351.141 of the Revised Code. An excise tax levied under division (B) or (C) of this section shall remain in effect at the rate at which it is levied for at least the duration of the period for which the receipts from the tax have been anticipated and pledged pursuant to section 351.141 of the Revised Code.

(E) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, the levy of an excise tax on each transaction pursuant to sections 5739.08 and 5739.09 of the Revised Code does not prevent a convention facilities authority from levying an excise tax pursuant to division (B) or (C) of this section.

(F) A convention facilities authority located in a county with a population greater than eighty thousand but less than ninety thousand according to the 2010 federal decennial census that levies a tax under division (B) of this section may amend the resolution levying the tax to allocate a portion of the revenue from the tax for support of tourism-related sites or facilities and programs operated by the county or a municipal corporation within the county in which the authority is located or for the purpose of leasing lands for county fairs, erecting buildings for county fair purposes, making improvements on a county fairground, or for any purpose connected with the use of a county fairground or with the management thereof by the county in which the authority is located. The revenue allocated by the authority for such purposes in a calendar year shall not exceed twenty-five per cent of the total revenue from the tax in the preceding calendar year. Revenue allocated for such purposes that is not fully used by the end of the calendar year may be carried forward for use in subsequent calendar years. Any amount carried forward does not count toward the limitation on the amount that may be allocated for such purposes in succeeding calendar years.

Last updated August 4, 2021 at 10:57 AM

Section 351.03 | No county financing or subsidizing operation of authority.
 

(A) Except as provided in division (C) of section 5739.09 or in section 5739.026 of the Revised Code, no county creating a convention facilities authority may appropriate and expend public funds to finance or subsidize the operation of the authority.

(B) Subject to making due provisions for payment and performance of its obligations, a convention facilities authority may be dissolved by the county creating it. In such event the properties of the authority shall be transferred to the county creating it, and the county may thereupon appropriate and expend public funds to finance or subsidize the operation of such facilities.

Section 351.04 | Organization of board of directors.
 

A convention facilities authority shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of the following members:

(A) Six directors appointed by the county commissioners. One shall be a representative of the townships in the county, one shall be a representative of a major business trade association located in the county, and one shall be a representative of the convention and visitors' bureau operating within the county. Not more than three of the persons appointed under this division shall be members of the same political party.

(B) Three directors appointed by the mayor of the municipal corporation that has the greatest population residing in the territory of the authority. Each appointment shall be subject to approval by a majority of the members of the legislative authority of the municipal corporation. Not more than two of the persons appointed under this division shall be members of the same political party.

(C) Two directors appointed by agreement of the mayors of the remaining municipal corporations located within the county in such manner as the board of county commissioners directs in the authorizing resolution. The persons appointed under this division shall not be members of the same political party.

Each director shall have been a qualified elector of, or shall have had his business or place of employment in the county creating the authority for a period of at least three years next preceding his appointment.

Original appointments to the board of directors shall be made by a date that shall be specified by the board of county commissioners in its resolution creating the authority, provided, if the board of county commissioners adopts a resolution to levy the tax under section 5739.026 of the Revised Code for the purpose of division (A)(1) of such section, the original appointments shall be made not later than thirty days after the adoption of the resolution to levy that tax.

The directors first appointed shall serve staggered terms, as set forth in the authorizing resolution of the board of county commissioners. Thereafter, each successor shall serve for a term of four years, except that any person appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed to only the unexpired term. Any director is eligible for reappointment.

The directors shall elect one director as chairman and another as vice-chairman; shall designate their terms of office; and shall appoint a secretary, who need not be a director. A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum, the affirmative vote of which shall be necessary for any action taken by the authority. No vacancy in the membership of the board shall impair the rights of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the authority.

Each director shall be entitled to receive from the authority reimbursement for reasonable expenses in the performance of his duties . The board of county commissioners may fix the compensation of the directors or determine that they shall serve without compensation.

Section 351.05 | Immunity.
 

(A) Except for civil actions that arise out of the operation of a motor vehicle and civil actions in which the convention facilities authority is the plaintiff, no director, officer, or employee of a convention facilities authority shall be liable in any civil action that arises under the law of this state for damage or injury caused in the performance of his duties, unless his actions were manifestly outside the scope of his employment or official responsibilities, or unless he acted with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner.

This division does not eliminate, limit, or reduce any immunity from civil liability that is conferred upon a director, officer, or employee by any other provision of the Revised Code or by case law.

(B)(1) A convention facilities authority shall indemnify a director, officer, or employee from liability incurred in the performance of his duties by paying any judgment in, or amount negotiated in settlement of, any civil action arising under federal law, the law of another state, or the law of a foreign jurisdiction. The reasonableness of the amount of any consent judgment or settlement is subject to the review and approval of the authority's board of directors. The maximum aggregate amount of indemnification paid directly from funds to or on behalf of any director, officer, or employee pursuant to this division shall be one million dollars per occurrence, regardless of the number of persons who suffer damage, injury, or death as a result of the occurrence.

(2) An authority shall not indemnify a director, officer, or employee under any of the following circumstances:

(a) To the extent the director, officer, or employee is covered by a policy of civil liability insurance purchased by the authority;

(b) When the director, officer, or employee acts manifestly outside the scope of his employment or official responsibilities, with malicious purpose, in bad faith, or in a wanton or reckless manner;

(c) For any portion of a judgment that represents punitive or exemplary damages;

(d) For any portion of a consent judgment or settlement that is unreasonable.

(3) The authority may purchase policies of insurance on behalf of directors, officers, and employees of the authority from insurers licensed to do business in this state providing coverage for damages in connection with any civil action, demand, or claim against the director, officer, or employee by reason of an act or omission by the director, officer, or employee occurring in the performance of his duties and not coming within the terms of division (B)(2)(b) of this section.

(C) This section does not affect either of the following:

(1) Any defense that would otherwise be available in an action alleging personal liability of a director, officer, or employee;

(2) The operation of section 9.83 of the Revised Code.

Section 351.06 | Applicability of prevailing wage law.
 

A facility to be constructed pursuant to this chapter is a public improvement and a convention facilities authority is a public authority for purposes of section 4115.03 of the Revised Code. All contractors and subcontractors working on such facilities are subject to and shall comply with sections 4115.03 to 4115.16 of the Revised Code. A convention facilities authority is a contracting authority for purposes of sections 307.86 to 307.91 of the Revised Code.

No convention facilities authority shall construct a facility under this chapter unless the plans for the facility provide for parking and transportation determined by the board of county commissioners as adequate to serve that facility.

A convention facilities authority may do all of the following:

(A) Adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business;

(B) Adopt an official seal;

(C) Maintain a principal office within its territory;

(D) Acquire, purchase, construct, reconstruct, enlarge, furnish, equip, maintain, repair, sell, exchange, lease or rent to, lease or rent from, operate, or contract for the operation by others of, facilities within its territory, and make charges for the use of the facilities;

(E) Make available the use or services of any facility to persons or governmental agencies on such terms and conditions as the authority shall determine;

(F) By resolution of its board of directors, issue convention facilities authority revenue bonds beyond the limit of bonded indebtedness provided by law, payable solely from revenues as provided in section 351.14 of the Revised Code, unless the bonds are refunded by refunding bonds, for the purpose of providing funds to pay the costs of any facility or facilities or parts of any facility or facilities, and, if moneys raised by taxation are not obligated or pledged for the payment of those revenue bonds, to pay the costs of any facility or facilities or parts of any facility or facilities pursuant to Section 13 of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, and in order to create or preserve jobs and employment opportunities and improve the economic welfare of the people of the state;

(G) Maintain such funds as it determines necessary;

(H) Direct its agents or employees, when properly identified in writing and after at least five days' written notice, to enter upon lands within its territory in order to make surveys and examinations preliminary to location and construction of facilities, or other work for the purposes of the convention facilities authority, without liability of the authority or its agents or employees except for actual damage done;

(I) Promote, advertise, and publicize the authority and its facilities;

(J)(1) Adopt rules, not in conflict with general law, governing the use of its property, grounds, buildings, equipment, and facilities, and the conduct of its employees and the public, in order to promote the public safety and convenience in and about its facilities and grounds, and to maintain order. Any such rule shall be posted at a prominent place in each of the buildings or facilities to which it applies.

(2) No person shall violate any lawful rule adopted and posted as provided in this division.

(K) Acquire by gift or purchase, hold, lease, and dispose of real and personal property and interests in the property in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties under this chapter;

(L) Acquire, in the name of the authority, by purchase or otherwise, on such terms and in such manner as the authority finds proper, or by the exercise of the right of appropriation in the manner provided by section 351.22 of the Revised Code, such public or private lands, including public parks, playgrounds, or reservations, or parts thereof or rights therein, rights-of-way, rights, franchises, easements, and interests as it finds necessary or proper for carrying out this chapter, and compensation shall be paid for public or private lands so taken;

(M) Make and enter into all contracts and agreements and execute all instruments necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under this chapter provided that no construction contract or contract for the purchase of goods or services shall be approved or entered into by the authority prior to the adoption and implementation of a policy on the set aside of contracts for bidding by or award to minority business enterprises, as defined in division (E)(1) of section 122.71 of the Revised Code;

(N) Employ managers, superintendents, and other employees and retain or contract with consulting engineers, financial consultants, accounting experts, architects, attorneys, and such other consultants and independent contractors as are necessary in its judgment to carry out this chapter, and fix their compensation. All expenses of doing so shall be payable solely from the proceeds of convention facilities authority bonds and notes issued under this chapter, or from excise taxes and revenues.

(O) Receive and accept from any governmental agency grants for or in aid of the purposes of the authority, and receive and accept aid or contributions from any source of money, property, labor, or other things of value, to be held, used, and applied only for the purposes for which such grants and contributions are made;

(P) Engage in research and development with respect to facilities;

(Q) Purchase fire and extended coverage and liability insurance for any facility and for the offices of the authority, insurance protecting the authority and its officers and employees against liability for damage to property or injury to or death of persons arising from its operations, and any other insurance the authority may agree to provide under any resolution authorizing its convention facilities authority revenue bonds or in any trust agreement securing the same;

(R) Charge, alter, and collect rentals and other charges for the use or services of any facility as provided in section 351.09 of the Revised Code;

(S) If a tax proposed under section 5739.026 of the Revised Code is disapproved by the electors, request the board of county commissioners to dissolve the authority pursuant to section 351.03 of the Revised Code;

(T) By resolution of its board of directors, levy any of the excise taxes authorized by division (B) or (C) of section 351.021 of the Revised Code if authorized by the county commissioners, and issue convention facilities authority tax anticipation bonds beyond any limit of bonded indebtedness provided by law, payable solely from excise taxes levied pursuant to division (B) or (C) of section 351.021 of the Revised Code and revenues as provided in section 351.141 of the Revised Code.

(U) Do all acts necessary or proper to carry out the powers expressly granted in this chapter.

Section 351.07 | Employees of authority.
 

(A)(1) A convention facilities authority shall employ and fix the qualifications, duties, and compensation of employees and enter into contracts for professional services as it may require to conduct the business of the authority, provided that no full-time employees shall be employed until the authority adopts and implements a policy regarding hiring preferences for veterans. The authority at any time may suspend or dismiss any employee or terminate any contract for professional services.

(2) "Veteran" means either of the following:

(a) An individual who has served in the active military or naval service of the United States and who was discharged or released under circumstances other than dishonorable;

(b) An individual who has served as a member of the United States merchant marine and to whom either of the following applies:

(i) The individual has an honorable report of separation from the active duty military service, form DD214 or DD215.

(ii) The individual served in the United States merchant marine between December 7, 1941, and December 31, 1946, and died on active duty while serving in a war zone during that period of service.

(3) "United States merchant marine" includes the United States army transport service and the United States naval transport service.

(B) A convention facilities authority may provide for the administration and enforcement of the laws of the state by employing special police officers, and may seek the assistance of other appropriate law enforcement officers to enforce its rules and maintain order. Special police officers employed by an authority shall serve as a security force with respect to the property, grounds, buildings, equipment, and facilities under the authority's control to protect the authority's property, suppress nuisances and disturbances and breaches of the peace, and enforce laws for the preservation of good order. In performing their duties, special police officers are vested with the same powers of arrest as police officers are given under divisions (A) and (B) of section 2935.03 of the Revised Code while on the grounds of the authority's facilities, and under division (D) of such section when off of the grounds of the authority's facilities.

Section 351.08 | Group insurance for employees.
 

(A) A convention facilities authority may procure and pay any or all of the cost of group hospitalization, surgical, major medical, sickness and accident insurance, or group life insurance, or a combination of any of the foregoing types of insurance or coverage for full-time employees and their dependents, issued by an insurance company duly authorized to do business in this state.

(B) A convention facilities authority also may procure and pay any or all of the cost of a plan of group hospitalization, surgical, or major medical insurance with a health insuring corporation with a certificate of authority issued under Chapter 1751. of the Revised Code, provided that each full-time employee shall be permitted to:

(1) Exercise an option between a plan offered by an insurance company as provided in division (A) of this section and a plan offered by a health insuring corporation under this division, on the condition that the full-time employee shall pay the amount by which the cost of the plan offered in this division exceeds the cost of the plan offered under division (A) of this section; and

(2) Change from one of the two plans to the other at a time each year as determined by the convention facilities authority.

Section 351.09 | Rentals or other charges for use or services of any facility.
 

A convention facilities authority may charge, alter, and collect rentals or other charges for the use or services of any facility and contract in the manner provided by this section from persons or governmental agencies desiring the use or services of such facility, and fix the terms, conditions, rentals, or other charges for such use or services. Such rentals or other charges shall not be subject to supervision or regulation by any other authority, commission, board, bureau, or agency of the state. Such contract may provide for acquisition by such person or governmental agency of all or any part of such facility for such consideration payable over the period of the contract or otherwise as the authority in its sole discretion determines to be appropriate, but subject to the provisions of any resolution authorizing the issuance of convention facilities authority revenue bonds, convention facilities authority tax anticipation bonds, or any trust agreement securing them. Any governmental agency that has power to construct, operate, and maintain facilities may enter into a contract or lease with a convention facilities authority whereby the use or services of any facility will be made available to such governmental agency, which may pay for such use or services such rentals or other charges as may be agreed to by the authority and such governmental agency.

Section 351.10 | Cooperating with governmental agencies.
 

Except as otherwise provided in this section, a governmental agency may cooperate with the convention facilities authority in the acquisition or construction of facilities and shall enter into such agreements with the authority as may be appropriate, with a view to effective cooperative action and safeguarding of the respective interests of the parties to the agreements, which shall provide for such contributions by the parties to the agreements in such proportion as may be agreed upon and such other terms as may be mutually satisfactory to the parties including, without limitation, the authorization of the construction of the facility by one of the parties acting as agent for all of the parties and the ownership and control of the facility by the convention facilities authority to the extent necessary or appropriate for purposes of the issuance of convention facilities authority bonds and notes by the convention facilities authority. No moneys appropriated by the state shall be applied to the cost of construction or operation of any facility constructed under this chapter.

Section 351.11 | Lawful investments.
 

Convention facilities authority bonds and notes issued under this chapter are lawful investments of banks, societies for savings, trust companies, savings and loan associations, trustees, fiduciaries, trustees or other officers having charge of the bond retirement funds or sinking funds of municipal corporations, boards of education, port authorities, and counties and political subdivisions and taxing districts of this state, the commissioners of the sinking fund of this state, the administrator of workers' compensation, the retirement boards of the state teachers retirement system, the school employees retirement system, the public employees retirement system, and the Ohio police and fire pension fund, and of insurance companies, including domestic life insurance companies and domestic insurance companies other than life, and are acceptable as security for the deposit of public moneys.

Section 351.12 | Exemption from tax.
 

As used in this section, "private enterprise" means a person whose ownership and use of the property leased to it or used exclusively by it would not qualify such property for exemption from taxation.

The exercise of the powers granted by this chapter will be for the benefit of the people of the state, for the improvement of their health, safety, convenience, and welfare, and for the enhancement of their convention and recreational opportunities and is a public purpose. As the operation and maintenance of facilities will constitute the performance of essential governmental functions, a convention facilities authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon any facility to which it holds title, or upon any property acquired or used by it under this chapter, or upon the income therefrom, provided that any part of such a facility or property leased to, or exclusively used by, a private enterprise, and the income therefrom, shall be subject to appropriate taxes and assessments, and the listing of such a facility or property shall be split as provided in section 5713.04 of the Revised Code. The transfer to or from a convention facilities authority of title or possession of any facility, part thereof, or item included or to be included in any such facility and the receipt or sale by the authority of any services included in division (B)(3) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code shall not be subject to the taxes levied pursuant to Chapters 5739. and 5741. of the Revised Code. The bonds and notes issued under this chapter, their transfer, and the income therefrom, shall at all times be free from taxation within the state.

Section 351.13 | Power to lease, sell or encumber facility.
 

(A) With respect to facilities and the financing thereof, and under agreements whereby the party to whom the facility is to be leased, subleased, or sold is to make payments sufficient to pay all of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the convention facilities authority revenue bonds issued for the facility, the convention facilities authority may, in addition to other powers under this chapter:

(1) Sell such facility under such terms as it may determine, including, without limitation, sale by conditional sale or installment sale, under which title may pass prior to or after completion of the facility;

(2) Grant a mortgage, lien, or other encumbrance on, or pledge or assignment of, or other security interest with respect to, all or any part of the facility, revenues, reserve funds, or other funds established in connection with such bonds, or on, of, or with respect to any lease, sublease, sale, conditional sale, or installment sale agreement, or other agreement pertaining to the lease, sublease, sale, or other disposition of a facility or any interest of the authority therein, or any other interest granted, assigned, or released to secure payments of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the bonds or to secure any other payments to be made by the authority, which mortgage, lien, encumbrance, pledge, assignment, or other security interest may be prior or subordinate to or on a parity with any other mortgage, assignment, or other security interest, or lien or encumbrance;

(3) Provide that the interest on such bonds may be at a variable rate or rates changing from time to time in accordance with a base or formula as authorized by the authority;

(4) Contract for the leasing, subleasing, sale, or other disposition of such facility in a manner determined by the convention facilities authority in its sole discretion, without necessity for competitive bidding or performance bonds.

(B) In the lease or sale with respect to a facility referred to in division (A) of this section, the authority shall make appropriate provision for adequate maintenance of the facility.

Section 351.14 | Issuing bonds.
 

A convention facilities authority may at any time issue revenue bonds and notes in such principal amount as, in the opinion of the authority, are necessary for the purpose of paying the cost of one or more facilities or parts thereof. An authority may at any time issue renewal notes, issue bonds to pay such notes and, whenever it deems refunding expedient, refund any bonds by the issuance of convention facilities authority revenue refunding bonds whether the bonds to be refunded have or have not matured, and issue bonds partly to refund bonds then outstanding, and partly for any other authorized purpose. The refunding bonds shall be sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase, redemption, or payment of the bonds to be refunded. Except as may otherwise be expressly provided by the authority, every issue of its bonds or notes shall be general obligations of the authority payable out of the authority's revenues that are pledged for such payment, without preference or priority of the first bonds issued, subject only to any agreements with the holders of particular bonds or notes pledging any particular revenues. Such pledge shall be valid and binding from the time the pledge is made, and the revenues so pledged and thereafter received by the authority shall immediately be subject to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act. The lien of any such pledge is valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the authority, irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolution nor any trust agreement by which a pledge is created need be filed or recorded except in the authority's records.

Whether or not the bonds or notes are of such form and character as to be negotiable instruments, the bonds or notes shall have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments, subject only to the provisions of the bonds or notes for registration.

The bonds and notes shall be authorized by resolution of the authority, shall bear such date or dates, and shall mature at such time or times, in the case of any such note or any renewals thereof not exceeding twenty years from the date of issue of such original note and in the case of any such bond or any refunding bonds not exceeding forty years from the date of issue, and shall be executed in such manner as such resolution may provide. The bonds and notes shall bear interest at such rate or rates, be in such denominations, be in such form, either coupon or registered, carry such registration privileges, be payable in such medium of payment, at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption as the authority may authorize. Bonds and notes of the authority may be sold by the authority, at public or private sale, at or at not less than such price or prices as the authority determines. In case any officer whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature, appears on any bonds, notes, or coupons ceases to be such officer before delivery of bonds or notes, such signature or facsimile shall nevertheless be sufficient for all purposes as if he had remained in office until such delivery, and in case the seal of the authority has been changed after a facsimile has been imprinted on such bonds or notes, such facsimile seal will continue to be sufficient for all purposes.

Any resolution or resolutions authorizing any bonds or notes or any issue thereof may contain provisions, subject to such agreements with bondholders or noteholders as may then exist, which provisions shall be a part of the contract with the holders thereof, as to: the pledging of any or all of the authority's revenues to secure the payment of the bonds or notes or of any issue thereof; the use and disposition of revenues of the convention facilities authority; a covenant to fix, alter, and collect rentals and other charges so that pledged revenues will be sufficient to pay costs of operation, maintenance, and repairs, pay principal of and interest on bonds or notes secured by the pledge of such revenues, and provide such reserves as may be required by the applicable resolution or trust agreement; the setting aside of reserve funds, sinking funds, or replacement and improvement funds and the regulation and disposition thereof; the crediting of the proceeds of the sale of bonds or notes to and among the funds referred to or provided for in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or notes; the use, lease, sale, or other disposition of any recreational facility or any other assets of the authority; limitations on the purpose to which the proceeds of sale of bonds or notes may be applied and the pledging of such proceeds to secure the payment of the bonds or notes or of any issue thereof; as to notes issued in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, the agreement of the authority to do all things necessary for the authorization, issuance, and sale of such bonds in such amounts as may be necessary for the timely retirement of such notes; limitations on the issuance of additional bonds or notes; the terms upon which additional bonds or notes may be issued and secured; the refunding of outstanding bonds or notes; the procedure, if any, by which the terms of any contract with bondholders or noteholders may be amended or abrogated, the amount of bonds or notes the holders of which must consent thereto, and the manner in which such consent may be given; limitations on the amount of moneys to be expended by the authority for operating, administrative, or other expenses of the authority; securing any bonds or notes by a trust agreement in accordance with section 351.16 of the Revised Code; any other matters, of like or different character, that in any way affect the security or protection of the bonds or notes.

Neither the members of the authority's board of directors nor any person executing the bonds or notes shall be liable personally on the bonds or notes or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof.

Section 351.141 | Issuing anticipation bonds.
 

A convention facilities authority that levies any of the excise taxes authorized by division (B) or (C) of section 351.021 of the Revised Code or that receives contributions pursuant to division (C) of section 5739.09 of the Revised Code, by resolution may anticipate the proceeds of the levy and issue convention facilities authority tax anticipation bonds, and notes anticipating the proceeds or the bonds, in the principal amount that, in the opinion of the authority, are necessary for the purpose of paying the cost of one or more facilities or parts of one or more facilities, and as able, with the interest on them, be paid over the term of the issue, or in the case of notes anticipating bonds over the term of the bonds, by the estimated amount of the excise taxes or contributions anticipated thereby. The excise taxes or contributions are determined by the general assembly to satisfy any applicable requirement of Section 11 of Article XII, Ohio Constitution. An authority, at any time, may issue renewal tax anticipation notes, issue tax anticipation bonds to pay such notes, and, whenever it considers refunding expedient, refund any tax anticipation bonds by the issuance of tax anticipation refunding bonds whether the bonds to be refunded have or have not matured, and issue tax anticipation bonds partly to refund bonds then outstanding and partly for any other authorized purpose. The refunding bonds shall be sold and the proceeds needed for such purpose applied in the manner provided in the bond proceedings to the purchase, redemption, or payment of the bonds to be refunded.

Every issue of outstanding tax anticipation bonds shall be payable out of the proceeds of the excise taxes or contributions anticipated and other revenues of the authority that are pledged for such payment. The pledge shall be valid and binding from the time the pledge is made, and the anticipated excise taxes, contributions, and revenues so pledged and thereafter received by the authority immediately shall be subject to the lien of that pledge without any physical delivery of those excise taxes, contributions, and revenues or further act. The lien of any pledge is valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the authority, whether or not such parties have notice of the lien. Neither the resolution nor any trust agreement by which a pledge is created need be filed or recorded except in the authority's records.

Whether or not the bonds or notes are of such form and character as to be negotiable instruments under Title XIII of the Revised Code, the bonds or notes shall have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments, subject only to their provisions for registration, if any.

The tax anticipation bonds shall bear such date or dates, and shall mature at such time or times, in the case of any such notes or any renewals of such notes not exceeding twenty years from the date of issue of such original notes and in the case of any such bonds or any refunding bonds not exceeding forty years from the date of the original issue of notes or bonds for the purpose, and shall be executed in the manner that the resolution authorizing the bonds may provide. The tax anticipation bonds shall bear interest at such rates, or at variable rate or rates changing from time to time, in accordance with provisions provided in the authorizing resolution, be in such denominations and form, either coupon or registered, carry such registration privileges, be payable in such medium of payment and at such place or places, and be subject to such terms of redemption, as the authority may authorize or provide. The tax anticipation bonds may be sold at public or private sale, and at, or at not less than the price or prices as the authority determines. If any officer whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature appears on any bonds or coupons ceases to be such officer before delivery of the bonds, the signature or facsimile shall nevertheless be sufficient for all purposes as if the officer had remained in office until delivery of the bonds, and in case the seal of the authority has been changed after a facsimile has been imprinted on the bonds, the facsimile seal will continue to be sufficient for all purposes.

Any resolution or resolutions authorizing any tax anticipation bonds or any issue of tax anticipation bonds may contain provisions, subject to any agreements with bondholders as may then exist, which provisions shall be a part of the contract with the holders of the bonds, as to the pledging of any or all of the authority's anticipated excise taxes, contributions, and revenues to secure the payment of the bonds or of any issue of the bonds; the use and disposition of revenues of the authority; the crediting of the proceeds of the sale of bonds to and among the funds referred to or provided for in the resolution; limitations on the purpose to which the proceeds of sale of the bonds may be applied and the pledging of portions of such proceeds to secure the payment of the bonds or of any issue of the bonds; as to notes issued in anticipation of the issuance of bonds, the agreement of the authority to do all things necessary for the authorization, issuance, and sale of such bonds in such amounts as may be necessary for the timely retirement of such notes; limitations on the issuance of additional bonds; the terms upon which additional bonds may be issued and secured; the refunding of outstanding bonds; the procedure, if any, by which the terms of any contract with bondholders may be amended, the amount of bonds the holders of which must consent thereto, and the manner in which such consent may be given; securing any bonds by a trust agreement in accordance with section 351.16 of the Revised Code; any other matters, of like or different character, that in any way affect the security or protection of the bonds. The excise taxes anticipated by the bonds, including bonds anticipated by notes, shall not be subject to diminution by initiative or referendum or by law while the bonds or notes remain outstanding in accordance with their terms, unless provision is made by law or by the authority for an adequate substitute therefor reasonably satisfactory to the trustee, if a trust agreement secures the bonds.

Neither the members of the board of directors of the authority nor any person executing the bonds shall be liable personally on the bonds or be subject to any personal liability or accountability by reason of the issuance thereof.

Section 351.15 | Issuance of convention facilities authority bonds and notes exempt from bond laws.
 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, sections 9.98 to 9.983 of the Revised Code apply to convention facilities authority bonds and notes issued under this chapter. Convention facilities authority bonds and notes issued under this chapter need not comply with any other law applicable to the issuance of bonds or notes.

Section 351.16 | Bonds secured by trust agreement.
 

In the discretion of the convention facilities authority, any convention facilities authority bonds and notes issued under this chapter may be secured by a trust agreement between the authority and a corporate trustee, which trustee may be any trust company or bank having the powers of a trust company within or without the state.

Any such trust agreement for convention facility authority revenue bonds may pledge or assign revenues of the convention facilities authority to be received and may convey or mortgage any facility or any part of any facility. Any such trust agreement for convention facility authority tax anticipation bonds may pledge or assign any of the excise taxes authorized by division (B) or (C) of section 351.021 of the Revised Code and revenues of the convention facilities authority to be received and may convey or mortgage any facility or any part of any facility. Any such trust agreement or any resolution providing for the issuance of such bonds or notes may contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders or noteholders as are reasonable and proper and not in violation of law, including covenants setting forth the duties of the authority in relation to the acquisition of property, the construction, improvement, maintenance, repair, operation, and insurance of the facility in connection with which such bonds or notes are authorized, the rentals or other charges to be imposed for the use or services of any facility, the custody, safeguarding, and application of all moneys, and provisions for the employment of consulting engineers in connection with the construction or operation of such facility. Any bank or trust company incorporated under the laws of this state that may act as depository of the proceeds of bonds or notes or of revenues may furnish such indemnifying bonds or may pledge such securities as are required by the authority. Any such trust agreement may set forth the rights and remedies of the bondholders and noteholders and of the trustee, and may restrict the individual right of action by bondholders and noteholders as is customary in trust agreements or trust indentures securing similar bonds. Such trust agreement may contain such other provisions as the authority determines reasonable and proper for the security of the bondholders or noteholders. All expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of any such trust agreement may be treated as a part of the cost of the operation of the facility. Any such trust agreement or resolution authorizing the issuance of convention facilities authority bonds or notes may provide the method whereby the general administrative expenses of the authority shall be allocated among facilities acquired or constructed by it as a factor of the operation expenses of such facility.

Section 351.17 | Protection and enforcement of rights of bondholder and trustees.
 

Any holder of convention facilities authority revenue bonds or convention facilities authority tax anticipation bonds issued under this chapter, or any of the coupons appertaining to the bonds, and the trustee under any trust agreement, except to the extent the rights given by such chapter may be restricted by the applicable resolution or such trust agreement, may by suit, action, mandamus, or other proceedings, protect and enforce any rights under the laws of the state or granted under such chapter, trust agreement, or the resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds, and may enforce and compel the performance of all duties required by this chapter, or by the trust agreement or resolution, to be performed by the authority or any officer of the authority, including the fixing, charging, and collecting of rentals or other charges and, in the case of convention facilities authority tax anticipation bonds, the levy and collection of the excise taxes anticipated.

Section 351.18 | Bonds not a debt of state.
 

Convention facilities authority bonds and notes issued under this chapter do not constitute a debt, or a pledge of the faith and credit, of the state or any political subdivision of the state, and the holders or owners of the bonds and notes have no right to have taxes levied by the general assembly, or, except as provided in SECTIONS 351.021 and 5739.026 of the Revised Code, by the taxing authority of any political subdivision of the state for the payment of the principal of, or interest on, the bonds and notes but such bonds and notes are payable solely from the revenues and excise taxes pledged for their payment as authorized by this chapter, unless the notes are issued in anticipation of the issuance of bonds or the bonds are refunded by refunding bonds issued under this chapter, which bonds or refunding bonds shall be payable solely from revenues and excise taxes pledged for their payment as authorized by this chapter. All such bonds and notes shall contain on their face a statement to the effect that the bonds or notes, as to both principal and interest, are not debts of the state or any political subdivision of the state, but are payable solely from revenues and excise taxes pledged for their payment.

All expenses incurred in carrying out this chapter are payable solely from revenues, bonds and notes, and excise taxes, as provided under this chapter. This chapter does not authorize an authority to incur indebtedness or liability on behalf of or payable by the state or any other political subdivision of the state.

Section 351.19 | Moneys, funds, properties, and assets held in trust.
 

All moneys, funds, properties, and assets acquired by a convention facilities authority under this chapter, whether as proceeds from the sale of convention facilities authority revenue bonds or convention facilities authority tax anticipation bonds or as revenues, or otherwise, shall be held by it in trust for the purposes of carrying out its powers and duties, shall be used and reused as provided in this chapter, and shall at no time be part of other public funds. Such moneys and funds, except as otherwise provided in any resolution authorizing its convention facilities authority bonds and notes or in any trust agreement securing the same, or except when invested pursuant to section 351.20 of the Revised Code, shall be kept in depositories selected by the authority in the manner provided in Chapter 135. of the Revised Code, and the deposits shall be secured as provided in Chapter 135. of the Revised Code. The resolution authorizing the issuance of such bonds of any issue or the trust agreement securing such bonds shall provide that any officer to whom, or any bank or trust company to which, such moneys are paid shall act as trustee of such moneys and hold and apply them for the purposes hereof, subject to such conditions as such chapter and such resolutions or trust agreement provide.

Section 351.20 | Investing money.
 

Moneys in the funds of a convention facilities authority, except as otherwise provided in any resolution authorizing the issuance of its convention facilities authority bonds and notes or in any trust agreement securing the same, in excess of current needs, may be invested in notes, bonds, or other obligations of the United States or any agency or instrumentality of the United States, or in obligations of this state or any political subdivision of this state. Income from all such investments of moneys in any fund shall be credited among funds as the authority determines, subject to the provisions of any such resolution or trust agreement, and such investments may be sold at such time as the authority determines.

Section 351.21 | Acquiring real property - transfers of real or personal property from governmental agencies.
 

A convention facilities authority may acquire by purchase, whenever it finds such purchase expedient, any land, property, rights, rights-of-way, franchises, easements, and other interests in land as it finds to be necessary or convenient, for the construction and operation of any facility upon such terms and at such price as it considers reasonable and are agreed upon between the authority and the owner thereof, and take title thereto in the name of the authority.

Any governmental agency, notwithstanding any contrary provision of law and without the necessity for an advertisement, auction, order of court, or other action or formality, other than the regular and formal action of such governmental agency concerned, may lease, lend, grant, or convey to the convention facilities authority, at its request, upon such terms as the proper authorities of such governmental agency find reasonable and fair any real property or interests therein including improvements thereto or personal property which is necessary or convenient to effect the authorized purposes of the convention facilities authority, including public roads, transit authority property, and real or personal property that is devoted to public use.

Section 351.22 | Eminent domain.
 

A convention facilities authority may acquire by appropriation pursuant to division (L) of section 351.06 of the Revised Code any public or private lands, including public parks, playgrounds, or reservations, or parts thereof or rights therein, rights-of-way, rights, franchises, easements, and interests as it finds necessary or proper for the construction or the efficient operation of any facility. In any proceedings for appropriation under this section, the procedure to be followed shall be in accordance with Chapter 163. of the Revised Code.

This section does not empower an authority to appropriate or disturb property or facilities belonging to and required for the proper and convenient operation of any public utility or any common carrier engaged in interstate commerce, unless provision is made for the restoration, relocation, or duplication of such property or facilities elsewhere at the sole cost of the authority.

Section 351.23 | Relocating public road, state highway, railroad, or public utility facility.
 

When a convention facilities authority finds it necessary to change the location of any portion of any public road, state highway, railroad, or public utility facility in connection with the construction of a facility, it shall cause the same to be reconstructed at such location as the governmental agency having jurisdiction over such road, highway, railroad, or public utility facility finds most favorable. Such construction shall be of substantially the same type and substantially in the same condition as the original road, highway, railroad, or public utility facility. The actual cost of such reconstruction, relocation, or removal incurred in changing the location of any such road, highway, railroad, or public utility facility shall be paid by the authority as a part of the cost of such facility.

When the authority finds it necessary that any public highway or portion thereof be vacated by reason of the acquisition or construction of a facility, the authority may request the director of transportation, in writing, to vacate such highway or portion thereof in accordance with section 5511.07 of the Revised Code if the highway or portion thereof to be vacated is on the state highway system, or, if the highway or portion thereof to be vacated is under the jurisdiction of the county commissioners, the authority shall request the director, in writing, to petition the county commissioners, in the manner provided in section 5553.041 of the Revised Code, to vacate such highway or portion thereof. The authority shall pay to the director or to the county, as a part of the cost of such facility, any amounts required to be deposited with any court in connection with proceedings for the determination of compensation and damages and all amounts of compensation and damages finally determined to be payable as a result of such vacation.

The authority may adopt reasonable rules for the installation, construction, maintenance, repair, renewal, relocation, and removal of railroad or public utility facilities in, on, over, or under any facility. Whenever the authority determines that it is necessary that any such facilities installed or constructed in, on, over, or under property of the authority pursuant to such rules be relocated, the railroad or public utility owning or operating such facilities shall relocate or remove them in accordance with the order of the authority. The cost and expenses of such relocation or removal, including the cost of installing such facilities in a new location, the cost of any lands, or any rights or interests in lands, and any other rights, acquired to accomplish such relocation or removal, may be paid by the authority as a part of the cost of the facility. In case of any such relocation or removal of such facilities, the railroad or public utility owning or operating them, its successors, or assigns may maintain and operate such facilities, with the necessary appurtenances, in the new location in, on, over, or under the property of the authority for as long a period and upon the same terms as it had the right to maintain and operate such facilities in their former location.

Section 351.24 | Records of convention facilities authority.
 

Except as otherwise provided in this section, all final actions of a convention facilities authority shall be journalized and such journal and the records of the authority, including but not limited to records relating to the terms of any lease of all or a part of a facility, and the terms of any contract authorizing or governing the sale of concessions within the facility, shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times. Any records or proprietary information relating to lessees or other users that may be obtained by the authority or other persons acting under this chapter are confidential and shall not be disclosed.

Section 351.25 | Liberal construction of chapter.
 

Sections 351.01 to 351.25 of the Revised Code being necessary for the welfare of the state and its inhabitants shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes thereof.

Section 351.26 | Election on convention facility authority tax for construction or renovation of sports facility.
 

(A) The board of directors of a convention facilities authority may adopt a resolution requesting the board of county commissioners of the county in which the convention facilities authority has its territory to propose the question of a tax to be levied pursuant to this section and section 4301.424 or sections 5743.026 and 5743.324 of the Revised Code for the purpose of construction or renovation of a sports facility. The board of directors shall certify a copy of the resolution to the board of county commissioners not later than one hundred five days prior to the day of the election at which the board of directors requests the board of county commissioners to submit the question of the tax. The resolution shall state the rate at which the tax would be levied, the purpose for which the tax would be levied, the number of years the tax would be levied, the section of the Revised Code under which the tax would be levied, and the date of the election at which the board of directors requests the board of county commissioners to submit the question of the tax, all of which are subject to the limitations of this section and section 4301.424 or sections 5743.026 and 5743.324 of the Revised Code.

Upon receiving a copy of such a resolution from the board of directors, the board of county commissioners shall adopt a resolution either approving or rejecting the proposal, and certify a copy of its resolution to the board of directors. If the board of county commissioners approves the proposal, the board of county commissioners shall propose the question of levying a tax pursuant to section 4301.424 of the Revised Code or pursuant to sections 5743.026 and 5743.324 of the Revised Code, as specified in the board of directors' resolution, for the purpose of construction or renovation of a sports facility.

(B) The form of the ballot in an election held on the question of levying a tax proposed pursuant to section 4301.424 or 5743.026 of the Revised Code shall be as follows or in any other form acceptable to the secretary of state:

"For the purpose of paying the costs of __________ (constructing or renovating) a sports facility, shall (an) excise tax(es) be levied by the __________ county for the convention facilities authority of __________ county at the rate of ______ (dollars on each gallon of spirituous liquor sold in the county by the Ohio division of liquor control, cents per gallon on the sale of beer at wholesale in the county, cents per gallon on the sale of wine and mixed beverages at wholesale in the county, or mills per cigarette on the sale of cigarettes at wholesale in the county), for ______ years?

Yes
No
"

For an election in which questions under section 4301.424 or 5743.026 of the Revised Code are joined as a single question, the form of the ballot shall be as above, except each of the proposed taxes shall be listed.

(C) No tax shall be levied under this section on or after September 23, 2008. This division does not prevent the collection of any tax levied under this section before that date so long as that tax remains effective.

Section 351.99 | Penalty.
 

Whoever violates division (J)(2) of section 351.06 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.