Chapter 164 | Aid to Local Government Improvements

Section 164.01 | Aid to local government improvement definitions.

• Effective: April 7, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 70 - 124th General Assembly

As used in this chapter:

(A) "Capital improvement" or "capital improvement project" or "project" means the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, planning, and equipping of roads and bridges, appurtenances to roads and bridges to enhance the safety of animal-drawn vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles, waste water treatment systems, water supply systems, solid waste disposal facilities, and storm water and sanitary collection, storage, and treatment facilities, including real property, interests in real property, facilities, and equipment related or incidental to those facilities.

(B) "Local subdivision" means any county, municipal corporation, township, sanitary district, or regional water and sewer district.

(C) "Bond proceedings" means the resolutions, orders, trust agreements, indentures, and other agreements, credit facilities and credit enhancement facilities, and amendments and supplements to the foregoing, or any one or more or combination thereof, authorizing, awarding, or providing for the terms and conditions applicable to or providing for the security or liquidity of obligations, and the provisions contained in those obligations.

(D) "Bond service charges" means principal, including any mandatory sinking fund or redemption requirements for retirement of obligations, interest and other accreted amounts, and any redemption premium payable on obligations. If not prohibited by the applicable bond proceedings, bond service charges include costs of credit enhancement facilities that are related to, and represent or are intended to provide a source of payment of or limitation on, other bond service charges.

(E) "Bond service fund" means the fund, and any accounts in that fund, created by section 164.10 of the Revised Code, including all moneys and investments, and earnings from investments, credited and to be credited to that fund and accounts as provided in the bond proceedings.

(F) "Cost of capital improvement projects" means the costs of acquiring, constructing, reconstructing, expanding, improving, and engineering capital improvement projects, and related financing costs.

(G) "Credit enhancement facilities" means letters of credit, lines of credit, stand-by, contingent, or firm securities purchase agreements, interest rate hedges including, without limitation, interest rate swaps, insurance or surety arrangements, reserve or guarantee funds, and guarantees, and other arrangements that provide for contingent or direct payment of bond service charges, for security or additional security in the event of nonpayment or default in respect of obligations, or for making or providing funds for making payment of bond service charges to, and at the option and on demand of, holders of obligations or at the option of the issuer under put or similar arrangements, or for otherwise supporting the credit or liquidity of obligations, and includes credit, reimbursement, marketing, remarketing, indexing, carrying, purchase, and subrogation agreements, and other agreements and arrangements for reimbursement of the person providing the credit enhancement facility and the security for that reimbursement. As used in this division, obligations include debt obligations of local subdivisions.

(H) "Financing costs" means all costs and expenses relating to the authorization, issuance, sale, delivery, authentication, deposit, custody, clearing, registration, transfer, exchange, fractionalization, replacement, and servicing of obligations, including, without limitation, costs and expenses for or relating to, or payment obligations under, publication and printing, postage and express delivery, official statements, offering circulars, and informational statements, travel and transportation, paying agents, bond registrars, authenticating agents, remarketing agents, custodians, clearing agencies or corporations, securities depositories, financial advisory services, certifications, audits, federal or state regulatory agencies, accounting services, legal services and obtaining approving legal opinions and other legal opinions, credit ratings, original issue discount, credit facilities, and credit enhancement facilities. Financing costs may be paid from any moneys lawfully available for the purpose, including, unless otherwise provided in the bond proceedings, from the proceeds of the obligations to which they relate and from the same sources from which bond service charges on the obligations are paid and as though bond service charges.

(I) "Issuer" means the treasurer of state, or the officer who by law performs the functions of that officer.

(J) "Obligations" means bonds, notes, or other evidences of obligation of the state, including any interest coupons pertaining thereto, issued pursuant to sections 164.09 to 164.12 of the Revised Code.

(K) "Special funds" or "funds" means, except where the context does not permit, the bond service fund, and any other funds, including reserve funds, created under the bond proceedings and stated to be special funds in those proceedings, including all moneys and investments, and earnings from investments, credited and to be credited to the particular fund. Special funds do not include the state capital improvements fund created by section 164.08 of the Revised Code or, if so provided in the bond proceedings, a rebate fund or account established for purposes of federal tax laws.

(L) "Net proceeds" means amounts received from the sale of obligations pursuant to this chapter, excluding amounts used to refund or retire outstanding obligations, and does not include amounts required to be deposited in special funds pursuant to the applicable bond proceedings, or financing costs paid from such amounts received.

(M) "Local debt support and credit enhancements" means a full or partial pledge of support for any local bond issue, the payment of all or a part of the premium for bond insurance obtained from a private insurer, the subsidization of the interest rate on a loan obtained by the subdivision, or a source of revenue pledged in support of revenue bonds issued by a subdivision.

(N) "Principal amount" refers to the aggregate of the amount as stated or provided for in the bond proceedings authorizing the obligations as the amount on which interest or interest equivalent is initially calculated.

Section 164.02 | Ohio public works commission; small government capital improvements commission.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created the Ohio public works commission consisting of seven members who shall be appointed as follows: two persons shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; one person shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; two persons shall be appointed by the president of the senate; one person shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and one person from the private sector, who shall have experience in matters of public finance, shall be appointed alternately by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate, with the speaker of the house making the first appointment. The director of transportation, the director of environmental protection, the director of development, the director of natural resources, and the chairperson of the Ohio water development authority shall be nonvoting, ex officio members of the commission. Terms of office shall be for four years, each term ending on the date that is four years from the date of appointment. Members may be reappointed, to a subsequent four year term, one time. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term, and may be reappointed for up to two subsequent four year terms. A member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

The commission shall elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and other officers as it considers advisable. Four voting members constitute a quorum. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(B) The Ohio public works commission shall:

(1) Review and evaluate persons who will be recommended to the governor for appointment to the position of director of the Ohio public works commission, and, when the commission considers it appropriate, recommend the removal of a director;

(2) Provide the governor with a list of names of three persons who are, in the judgment of the commission, qualified to be appointed to the position of director. The commission shall provide the list, which may include the name of the incumbent director to the governor, not later than sixty days prior to the expiration of the term of such incumbent director. A director shall serve a two-year term upon initial appointment, and four-year terms if subsequently reappointed by the governor; however, the governor may remove a director at any time following the commission's recommendation of such action. Upon the expiration of a director's term, or in the case of the resignation, death, or removal of a director, the commission shall provide such list of the names of three persons to the governor within thirty days of such expiration, resignation, death, or removal. Nothing in this section shall prevent the governor, in the governor's discretion, from rejecting all of the nominees of the commission and requiring the commission to select three additional nominees. However, when the governor has requested and received a second list of three additional names, the governor shall make the appointment from one of the names on the first list or the second list. Appointment by the governor is subject to the advice and consent of the senate.

In the case of the resignation, removal, or death of the director during the director's term of office, a successor shall be chosen for the remainder of the term in the same manner as is provided for an original appointment.

(3) Provide oversight to the director and advise in the development of policy guidelines for the implementation of this chapter, and report and make recommendations to the general assembly with respect to such implementation;

(4) Adopt bylaws to govern the conduct of the commission's business;

(5) Appoint the members of the Ohio small government capital improvements commission in accordance with division (C) of this section.

(C)(1) There is hereby created the Ohio small government capital improvements commission. The commission shall consist of ten members, including the director of transportation, the director of environmental protection, and the chairperson of the Ohio water development authority as nonvoting, ex officio members and seven voting members appointed by the Ohio public works commission. Each such appointee shall be a member of a district public works integrating committee who was appointed to the integrating committee pursuant to the majority vote of the chief executive officers of the villages of the appointee's district or by a majority of the boards of township trustees of the appointee's district.

(2) Two of the initial appointments shall be for terms ending two years after March 29, 1988. The remaining initial appointments shall be for terms ending three years after March 29, 1988. Thereafter, terms of office shall be for two years, with each term ending on the same date of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. Each member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member is appointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration date of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall hold office as a member for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office after the expiration of the member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. Members of the commission may be reappointed. No more than two members of the commission may be members of the same district public works integrating committee.

(3) The Ohio small government capital improvements commission shall elect one of its appointed members as chairperson and another as vice-chairperson. Four voting members of the commission constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of four appointed members is required for any action taken by vote of the commission. No vacancy in the membership of the commission shall impair the right of a quorum by an affirmative vote of four appointed members to exercise all rights and perform all duties of the commission. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(D) The Ohio small government capital improvements commission shall:

(1) Advise the general assembly on the development of policy guidelines for the implementation of this chapter, especially as it relates to the interests of small governments and the use of the portion of bond proceeds set aside for the exclusive use of townships and villages;

(2) Advise the township and village subcommittees of the various district public works integrating committees concerning the selection of projects for which the use of such proceeds will be authorized;

(3) Affirm or overrule the recommendations of its administrator made in accordance with section 164.051 of the Revised Code concerning requests from townships and villages for financial assistance for capital improvement projects.

(E) Membership on the Ohio public works commission or the Ohio small government capital improvements commission does not constitute the holding of a public office. No appointed member shall be required, by reason of section 101.26 of the Revised Code, to resign from or forfeit membership in the general assembly.

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a county, municipal, or township public official may serve as a member of the Ohio public works commission or the Ohio small government capital improvements commission.

Members of the commissions established by this section do not have an unlawful interest in a public contract under section 2921.42 of the Revised Code solely by virtue of the receipt of financial assistance under this chapter by the local subdivision of which they are also a public official or appointee.

Last updated September 14, 2023 at 3:08 PM

Section 164.03 | Dividing state into districts for purpose of allocating funds.

• Effective: August 16, 2016
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 310 - 131st General Assembly

For the purpose of allocating the funds made available to finance public infrastructure capital improvement projects of local subdivisions through the issuance of general obligations of the state of Ohio pursuant to Section 2k, 2m, 2p, or 2s of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, the state is divided into the following districts:

District one. Cuyahoga county shall constitute district one.

District two. Hamilton county shall constitute district two.

District three. Franklin county shall constitute district three.

District four. Montgomery county shall constitute district four.

District five. Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Henry, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Williams, and Wood counties shall constitute district five.

District six. Mahoning and Trumbull counties shall constitute district six.

District seven. Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, and Portage counties shall constitute district seven.

District eight. Summit county shall constitute district eight.

District nine. Lorain, Huron, and Medina counties shall constitute district nine.

District ten. Butler, Clermont, Clinton, and Warren counties shall constitute district ten.

District eleven. Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Madison, Miami, Preble, and Union counties shall constitute district eleven.

District twelve. Lucas county shall constitute district twelve.

District thirteen. Allen, Auglaize, Hancock, Logan, Mercer, Putnam, Shelby, and Van Wert counties shall constitute district thirteen.

District fourteen. Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Guernsey, Harrison, Holmes, Jefferson, and Tuscarawas counties shall constitute district fourteen.

District fifteen. Adams, Brown, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto, and Vinton counties shall constitute district fifteen.

District sixteen. Ashland, Crawford, Hardin, Marion, Richland, Seneca, Wayne, and Wyandot counties shall constitute district sixteen.

District seventeen. Delaware, Fairfield, Knox, Licking, Morrow, and Pickaway counties shall constitute district seventeen.

District eighteen. Athens, Belmont, Hocking, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, and Washington counties shall constitute district eighteen.

District nineteen. Stark county shall constitute district nineteen.

Section 164.04 | District public works integrating committee.

• Effective: June 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 114 - 129th General Assembly

(A) In each of the districts created in section 164.03 of the Revised Code, a district public works integrating committee shall be established as follows:

(1) In district one, the district committee shall consist of seven members appointed as follows: two members shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners or the chief executive officer of the county; two members shall be appointed by the chief executive officer of the most populous municipal corporation in the district; two members shall be appointed by a majority of the chief executive officers of the other municipal corporations located within the district; and one member, who shall have experience in local infrastructure planning and economic development and who shall represent the interests of private industry within the district, shall be appointed by a majority of the members of the district committee or their alternates. Except with respect to the selection of the private sector member of the committee, the affirmative vote of at least five committee members or their alternates is required for any action taken by a vote of the committee.

(2) In district two, the district committee shall consist of nine members appointed as follows: two members shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners; three members shall be appointed by the chief executive officer of the most populous municipal corporation in the district; two members shall be appointed by a majority of the other chief executive officers of municipal corporations in the district; and two members shall be appointed by a majority of the boards of township trustees in the district. Of the members appointed by the board of county commissioners, one member shall have experience in local infrastructure planning and economic development, and one member shall be either a county commissioner or a county engineer of the district. The affirmative vote of at least seven members of the committee or their alternates is required for any action taken by a vote of the committee.

(3) In districts three, four, eight, twelve, and nineteen, the district committee shall consist of nine members appointed as follows: two members shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners or by the chief executive officer of the county; two members shall be appointed by the chief executive officer of the most populous municipal corporation located within the district; two members shall be appointed by a majority of the other chief executive officers of the municipal corporations located in the district; two members shall be appointed by a majority of the boards of township trustees located in the district; and one member, who shall have experience in local infrastructure planning and economic development and who shall represent the interests of private industry within the district, shall be appointed by a majority of the members of the committee or their alternates. Except with respect to the selection of the private sector member of the committee, the affirmative vote of at least seven committee members or their alternates is required for any action taken by a vote of the committee.

(4) In district six, the district committee shall consist of nine members appointed as follows: one member shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners of each county in the district; one member shall be appointed by the chief executive officer of the most populous municipal corporation in each county in the district; one member shall be appointed alternately by a majority of the chief executives of the municipal corporations, other than the largest municipal corporation, within one of the counties of the district; and one member shall be appointed alternately by a majority of the boards of township trustees within one of the counties in the district. The two persons who are the county engineers of the counties in the district also shall be members of the committee. At least six of these members or their alternates shall agree upon the appointment to the committee of a private sector person who shall have experience in local infrastructure planning and economic development. The affirmative vote of seven committee members or their alternates is required for any action taken by a vote of the committee.

The first appointment to the committee made by the majority of the boards of township trustees of a county shall be made by the boards of township trustees located in the least populous county of the district, and the first appointment made by the majority of the chief executives of municipal corporations, other than the largest municipal corporation, of a county shall be made by the chief executives of municipal corporations, other than the largest municipal corporation, from the most populous county in the district.

Notwithstanding division (C) of this section, the members of the district committee appointed alternately by a majority of the chief executive officers of municipal corporations, other than the largest municipal corporation, of a county and a majority of boards of township trustees of a county shall serve five-year terms.

(5) In districts seven, nine, and ten, the district committee shall consist of two members appointed by the board of county commissioners of each county in the district, two members appointed by a majority of the chief executive officers of all cities within each county in the district, three members appointed by a majority of the boards of township trustees of all townships in the district, three members appointed by a majority of chief executive officers of all villages in the district, one member who is appointed by a majority of the county engineers in the district and who shall be a county engineer, and one member, who shall have experience in local infrastructure planning and economic development, shall be appointed by a majority of all other committee members or their alternates. If there is a county in the district in which there are no cities, the member that is to be appointed by the chief executive officers of the cities within that county shall be appointed by the chief executive officer of the village with the largest population in that county.

(6) In districts five, eleven, and thirteen through eighteen, the members of each district committee shall be appointed as follows: one member shall be appointed by each board of county commissioners; one member shall be appointed by the majority of the chief executive officers of the cities located in each county; three members shall be appointed by a majority of the chief executive officers of villages located within the district; three members shall be appointed by a majority of the boards of township trustees located within the district; one member shall be appointed by a majority of the county engineers of the district and shall be a county engineer; and one member, who shall have experience in local infrastructure planning and economic development and who shall represent the interests of private industry within the district, shall be appointed by a majority of the members of the committee or their alternates. If there is a county in the district in which there are no cities, the member that is to be appointed by the chief executive officers of the cities within that county shall be appointed by the chief executive officer of the village with the largest population in that county.

(7) In districts five, seven, nine, ten, eleven, thirteen, fourteen, sixteen, and seventeen organized in accordance with divisions (A)(5) and (6) of this section, a nine-member executive committee shall be established that shall include at least one of the persons appointed to the district committee by the chief executive officers of the villages within the district, at least one of the persons appointed to the district committee by the boards of township trustees within the district, the person appointed to the district committee to represent the interests of private industry, and six additional district committee members selected to serve on the executive committee by a majority of the members of the district committee or their alternates, except that not more than three persons who were appointed to the district committee by a board of county commissioners and not more than three persons who were appointed to the district committee by the chief executives of the cities located in the district shall serve on the executive committee.

(8) In districts fifteen and eighteen organized in accordance with division (A)(6) of this section, an eleven-member executive committee shall be established that shall include at least one of the persons appointed to the district committee by the chief executive officers of the villages within the district, at least one of the persons appointed to the district committee by the boards of township trustees within the district, the person appointed to the district committee to represent the interests of private industry, and eight additional district committee members selected to serve on the executive committee by a majority of the members of the district committee or their alternates, except that not more than four persons who were appointed to the district committee by a board of county commissioners and not more than four persons who were appointed to the district committee by the chief executives of the cities located in the district shall serve on the executive committee. No more than two persons from each county shall be on the executive committee.

All decisions of a district committee required to be organized in accordance with divisions (A)(5) and (6) of this section shall be approved by its executive committee. The affirmative vote of at least seven executive committee members or their alternates for executive committees formed under division (A)(7) of this section and at least nine members or their alternates for executive committees formed under division (A)(8) of this section is required for any action taken by vote of the executive committee, except that any decision of the executive committee may be rejected by a vote of at least two-thirds of the full membership of the district committee within thirty days of the executive committee action. Only projects approved by the executive committee may be submitted to the director of the Ohio public works commission pursuant to section 164.05 of the Revised Code.

(B) Appointing authorities that appoint district committee members also may appoint an alternate for each committee member appointed under divisions (A)(1) to (6) of this section. If a district committee member is absent from a district or executive committee or subcommittee meeting, the alternate has the right to vote and participate in all proceedings and actions at that meeting.

(C) Terms of office for members of district committees and their alternates shall be for three years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. Each member and that member's alternate shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member is appointed, except that, with respect to any member who was an elected or appointed official of a township, county, or municipal corporation or that member's alternate, the term of office for that person under this section shall not extend beyond the member's term as an elected or appointed official unless the member was appointed by a group of officials of more than one political subdivision or the members of the district committee, in which case the member's alternate shall continue to serve for the full term. Members and their alternates may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner provided for original appointments. Any member or that member's alternate appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member's or alternate's predecessor was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. A member or that member's alternate shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's or alternate's term until the member's or alternate's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. Each district public works integrating committee shall elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and other officers it considers advisable.

(D) For purposes of this chapter, if a subdivision is located in more than one county or in more than one district, the subdivision shall be deemed to be a part of the county or district in which the largest number of its population is located. However, if after a decennial census the change in a subdivision's population would result in the subdivision becoming part of a different county or district, the legislative authority of the subdivision may, by resolution, choose to remain a part of the county or district of which the subdivision was originally deemed to be a part. Such a decision is not revocable unless similar conditions arise following the next decennial census.

(E) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a county, municipal, or township public official may serve as a member of a district public works integrating committee.

(F) A member of a district committee or that member's alternate does not have an unlawful interest in a public contract under section 2921.42 of the Revised Code solely by virtue of the receipt of financial assistance under this chapter by the local subdivision of which the member or that member's alternate is also a public official or appointee.

Section 164.05 | Director of the Ohio public works commission duties.

• Effective: July 21, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 397 - 134th General Assembly

(A) The director of the Ohio public works commission shall do all of the following:

(1) Approve requests for financial assistance from district public works integrating committees and enter into agreements with one or more local subdivisions to provide loans, grants, and local debt support and credit enhancements for a capital improvement project if the director determines that:

(a) The project is an eligible project pursuant to this chapter;

(b) The financial assistance for the project has been properly approved and requested by the district committee of the district which includes the recipient of the loan or grant;

(c) The amount of the financial assistance, when added to all other financial assistance provided during the fiscal year for projects within the district, does not exceed that district's allocation of money from the state capital improvements fund for that fiscal year;

(d) The district committee has provided such documentation and other evidence as the director may require that the district committee has satisfied the requirements of section 164.06 or 164.14 of the Revised Code;

(e) The portion of a district's annual allocation which the director approves in the form of loans and local debt support and credit enhancements for eligible projects is consistent with divisions (E) and (F) of this section.

(2) Authorize payments to local subdivisions or their contractors for costs incurred for capital improvement projects which have been approved pursuant to this chapter. All requests for payments shall be submitted to the director on forms and in accordance with procedures specified in rules adopted by the director pursuant to division (A)(4) of this section.

(3) Retain the services of or employ financial consultants, engineers, accountants, attorneys, and such other employees as the director determines are necessary to carry out the director's duties under this chapter and fix the compensation for their services. From among these employees, the director shall appoint a deputy with the necessary qualifications to act as the director when the director is absent or temporarily unable to carry out the duties of office.

(4) Adopt rules establishing the procedures for making applications, reviewing, approving, and rejecting projects for which assistance is authorized under this chapter, and any other rules needed to implement the provisions of this chapter. Such rules shall be adopted under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(5) Provide information and other assistance to local subdivisions and district public works integrating committees in developing their requests for financial assistance for capital improvements under this chapter and encourage cooperation and coordination of requests and the development of multisubdivision and multidistrict projects in order to maximize the benefits that may be derived by districts from each year's allocation;

(6) Require local subdivisions, to the extent practicable, to use Ohio products, materials, services, and labor in connection with any capital improvement project financed in whole or in part under this chapter;

(7) Notify the director of budget and management of all approved projects, and supply all information necessary to track approved projects through the state accounting system;

(8) Appoint the administrator of the Ohio small government capital improvements commission;

(9) Do all other acts, enter into contracts, and execute all instruments necessary or appropriate to carry out this chapter;

(10) Develop a standardized methodology for evaluating local subdivision capital improvement needs that permits a district public works integrating committee to consider, when addressing a subdivision's project application, the subdivision's existing capital improvements, the condition of those improvements, and the subdivision's projected capital improvement needs in that five-year period following the application date;

(11) Establish a program to provide local subdivisions with technical assistance in preparing project applications. The program shall be designed to assist local subdivisions that lack the financial or technical resources to prepare project applications on their own.

(B) When the director of the Ohio public works commission decides to conditionally approve or disapprove projects, the director's decisions and the reasons for which they are made shall be made in writing. These written decisions shall be conclusive for the purposes of the validity and enforceability of such determinations.

(C) Fees, charges, rates of interest, times of payment of interest and principal, and other terms, conditions, and provisions of and security for financial assistance provided pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be such as the director determines to be appropriate. If any payments required by a loan agreement entered into pursuant to this chapter are not paid, the funds which would otherwise be apportioned to the local subdivision from the county undivided local government fund, pursuant to sections 5747.51 to 5747.53 of the Revised Code, may, at the direction of the director of the Ohio public works commission, be reduced by the amount payable. The county treasurer shall, at the direction of the director, pay the amount of such reductions to the state capital improvements revolving loan fund. The director may renegotiate a loan repayment schedule with a local subdivision whose payments from the county undivided local government fund could be reduced pursuant to this division, but such a renegotiation may occur only one time with respect to any particular loan agreement.

(D) Grants approved for the repair and replacement of existing infrastructure pursuant to this chapter shall not exceed ninety per cent of the estimated total cost of the capital improvement project. Grants approved for new or expanded infrastructure shall not exceed fifty per cent of the estimated cost of the new or expansion elements of the capital improvement project. A local subdivision share of the estimated cost of a capital improvement may consist of any of the following:

(1) The reasonable value, as determined by the director or the administrator, of labor, materials, and equipment that will be contributed by the local subdivision in performing the capital improvement project;

(2) Moneys received by the local subdivision in any form from an authority, commission, or agency of the United States for use in performing the capital improvement project;

(3) Loans made to the local subdivision under this chapter;

(4) Engineering costs incurred by the local subdivision in performing engineering activities related to the project.

A local subdivision share of the cost of a capital improvement shall not include any amounts awarded to it from the local transportation improvement program fund created in section 164.14 of the Revised Code.

(E) The following portion of a district public works integrating committee's annual allocation share pursuant to section 164.08 of the Revised Code may be awarded to subdivisions only in the form of interest-free, low-interest, market rate of interest, or blended-rate loans:

YEAR IN WHICH MONEYS ARE ALLOCATED	PORTION USED FOR LOANS
Year 1	0%
Year 2	0%
Year 3	10%
Year 4	12%
Year 5	15%
Year 6	20%
Year 7, 8, 9, and 10	22%

(F) The following portion of a district public works integrating committee's annual allocation pursuant to section 164.08 of the Revised Code shall be awarded to subdivisions in the form of local debt support and credit enhancements:

YEAR IN WHICH MONEYS ARE ALLOCATED	PORTIONS USED FOR LOCAL DEBT SUPPORT AND CREDIT ENHANCEMENTS
Year 1	0%
Year 2	0%
Year 3	3%
Year 4	5%
Year 5	5%
Year 6	7%
Year 7	7%
Year 8	8%
Year 9	8%
Year 10	8%

(G) For the period commencing on March 29, 1988, and ending on June 30, 1993, for the period commencing July 1, 1993, and ending June 30, 1999, and for each five-year period thereafter, the total amount of financial assistance awarded under sections 164.01 to 164.08 of the Revised Code for capital improvement projects located wholly or partially within a county shall be equal to at least thirty per cent of the amount of what the county would have been allocated from the obligations authorized to be sold under this chapter during each period, if such amounts had been allocable to each county on a per capita basis.

(H) The amount of the annual allocations made pursuant to divisions (B)(1) and (4) of section 164.08 of the Revised Code which can be used for new or expanded infrastructure is limited as follows:

YEAR IN WHICH MONEYS ARE ALLOCATED	PORTION WHICH MAY BE USED FOR NEW OR EXPANSION INFRASTRUCTURE
Year 1	5%
Year 2	5%
Year 3	10%
Year 4	10%
Year 5	10%
Year 6	15%
Year 7	15%
Year 8	20%
Year 9	20%
Year 10 and each year thereafter	20%

(I) The following portion of a district public works integrating committee's annual allocation share pursuant to section 164.08 of the Revised Code shall be awarded to subdivisions in the form of interest-free, low-interest, market rate of interest, or blended-rate loans, or local debt support and credit enhancements:

YEAR IN WHICH MONEYS ARE ALLOCATED	PORTION USED FOR LOANS OR LOCAL DEBT SUPPORT AND CREDIT ENHANCEMENTS
Year 32 and each year thereafter	At least 10%

(J) No project shall be approved under this section unless the project is designed to have a useful life of at least seven years. In addition, the average useful life of all projects for which grants or loans are awarded in each district during a program year shall not be less than twenty years.

Last updated August 29, 2022 at 11:48 AM

Section 164.051 | Administrator of small government capital improvements commission - powers and duties.

• Effective: June 14, 1988
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 867 - 117th General Assembly

(A) The administrator of the Ohio small government capital improvements commission shall review projects submitted to him by subcommittees of district public works integrating committees in accordance with section 164.06 of the Revised Code. If he determines that a project satisfies the criteria of division (B) of that section, while taking into consideration the special needs of villages and townships, the administrator shall recommend to the Ohio small government capital improvements commission that the project be approved. If he determines that a project should not be approved or that a decision on the project should be delayed, such determinations and an explanation should also be sent to the Ohio small government capital improvements commission for final resolution.

(B) With respect to projects which the Ohio small government capital improvements commission approves, the administrator is authorized to:

(1) Enter into agreements to provide financial assistance in the form of loans, grants, or local debt support and credit enhancements to villages or townships with populations in the unincorporated areas of the township of less than five thousand;

(2) Authorize payments to such villages or townships or their contractors for the costs incurred for capital improvement projects which have been approved in accordance with this chapter. All requests for payments shall be submitted to the administrator on forms and in accordance with procedures specified in rules adopted pursuant to division (A)(4) of section 164.05 of the Revised Code.

(3) Notify the director of budget and management of all approved projects, and supply all information necessary to track the approved projects through the state accounting system.

(4) Do all other acts and enter into contracts and execute all instruments necessary or appropriate to carry out this section.

(C) Fees, charges, rates of interest, times of payment of interest and principal, and other terms, conditions, and provisions of and security for financial assistance provided pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be such as the administrator determines to be appropriate. If any payments required by a loan agreement entered into pursuant to this section are not paid, the funds which would otherwise be apportioned to the local subdivision from the county undivided local government fund, pursuant to sections 5747.51 to 5747.53 of the Revised Code, may, at the direction of the Ohio small government capital improvements commission, be reduced by the amount payable. The county treasurer shall, at the direction of the commission, pay the amount of such reductions to the state capital improvements revolving loan fund. Subject to the approval of the Ohio small government capital improvements commission, the administrator may renegotiate a loan repayment schedule with a local subdivision whose payments from the county undivided local government fund could be reduced pursuant to this division, but such a renegotiation may occur only one time with respect to any particular loan agreement.

Section 164.06 | District public works integrating committee duties.

• Effective: July 21, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 397 - 134th General Assembly

(A) Each district public works integrating committee shall evaluate materials submitted to it by the local subdivisions located in the district concerning capital improvements for which assistance is sought from the state capital improvements fund and shall, pursuant to division (B) of this section, select the requests for financial assistance that will be formally submitted by the district to the director of the Ohio public works commission. In order to provide for the efficient use of the district's state capital improvements fund allocation each year, a district committee shall assist its subdivisions in the preparation and coordination of project plans.

(B) In selecting the requests for assistance for capital improvement projects which will be submitted to the director, and in determining the nature, amount, and terms of the assistance that will be requested, a district public works integrating committee shall give priority to capital improvement projects for the repair or replacement of existing infrastructure and which would be unlikely to be undertaken without assistance under this chapter, and shall specifically consider all of the following factors:

(1) The infrastructure repair and replacement needs of the district;

(2) The age and condition of the system to be repaired or replaced;

(3) Whether the project would generate revenue in the form of user fees or assessments;

(4) The importance of the project to the health and safety of the citizens of the district;

(5) The cost of the project and whether it is consistent with division (G) of section 164.05 of the Revised Code and the district's allocation for grants, loans, and local debt support and credit enhancements for that year;

(6) The effort and ability of the benefited local subdivisions to assist in financing the project;

(7) The availability of federal or other funds for the project;

(8) The overall economic health of the particular local subdivision;

(9) The adequacy of the planning for the project and the readiness of the applicant to proceed should the project be approved;

(10) Any other factors relevant to a particular project.

(C) When applying the methodology under division (A)(10) of section 164.05 of the Revised Code, a district public works integrating committee may require a subdivision to submit information on its capital infrastructure as part of an application for assistance in financing a capital improvement project under this section.

(D) In addition to reviewing and selecting the projects for which approval will be sought from the director of the Ohio public works commission for financial assistance from the state capital improvements fund, each district public works integrating committee shall appoint a subcommittee of its members that will represent the interests of villages and townships and that will review and select the capital improvement projects which will be submitted by the subcommittee to the administrator of the Ohio small government capital improvements commission for consideration of assistance from the portion of the net proceeds of obligations issued and sold by the treasurer of state which is allocated pursuant to division (B)(1) of section 164.08 of the Revised Code. In reviewing and approving the projects selected by its subcommittee, the administrator, and the Ohio small government capital improvements commission shall be guided by the provisions of division (B) of this section, and shall also take into account the fact that villages and townships may have different public infrastructure needs than larger subdivisions.

Last updated April 26, 2022 at 4:19 PM

Section 164.07 | Locating and using minority business enterprises.

• Effective: December 30, 2004
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 516 - 125th General Assembly

(A) In awarding contracts for capital improvement projects to be financed in whole or in part under this chapter, a local subdivision shall comply with the percentage requirements of section 125.081 of the Revised Code.

(B) A capital improvement that is financed in whole or in part under this chapter is a public improvement, and a subdivision undertaking a capital improvement is a public authority, for purposes of section 4115.03 of the Revised Code. All contractors and subcontractors working on a capital improvement financed in whole or in part under this chapter shall comply with sections 4115.03 to 4115.16 of the Revised Code.

Section 164.08 | State capital improvements fund.

• Effective: July 21, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 397 - 134th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in sections 151.01 and 151.08 or section 164.09 of the Revised Code, the net proceeds of obligations issued and sold by the treasurer of state pursuant to section 164.09 of the Revised Code before September 30, 2000, or pursuant to sections 151.01 and 151.08 of the Revised Code, for the purpose of financing or assisting in the financing of the cost of public infrastructure capital improvement projects of local subdivisions, as provided for in Section 2k, 2m, 2p, or 2s of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, and this chapter, shall be paid into the state capital improvements fund, which is hereby created in the state treasury. Investment earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.

(B) Beginning July 1, 2016, each program year the amount of obligations authorized by the general assembly in accordance with sections 151.01 and 151.08 or section 164.09 of the Revised Code, excluding the proceeds of refunding or renewal obligations, shall be allocated by the director of the Ohio public works commission as follows:

(1) First, ten per cent of the amount of obligations authorized shall be allocated to provide financial assistance to villages and to townships with populations in the unincorporated areas of the township of less than five thousand persons, for capital improvements in accordance with section 164.051 and division (D) of section 164.06 of the Revised Code. As used in division (B)(1) of this section, "capital improvements" includes resurfacing and improving roads.

(2) Following the allocation required by division (B)(1) of this section, the director may allocate two per cent of the authorized obligations to provide financial assistance to local subdivisions for capital improvement projects which in the judgment of the director of the Ohio public works commission are necessary for the immediate preservation of the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the local subdivision requesting assistance. Starting July 1, 2021, the director may allocate up to six per cent of authorized obligations as provided in this division.

(3) The director shall determine the amount of the remaining obligations authorized to be issued and sold that each county would receive if such amounts were allocated on a per capita basis each year. If a county's per capita share for the year would be less than three hundred thousand dollars, the director shall allocate to the district in which that county is located an amount equal to the difference between three hundred thousand dollars and the county's per capita share.

(4) After making the allocation required by division (B)(3) of this section, the director shall allocate the remaining amount to each district on a per capita basis.

(C)(1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the state capital improvements revolving loan fund, into which shall be deposited all repayments of loans made to local subdivisions for capital improvements pursuant to this chapter. Investment earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.

(2) There may also be deposited in the state capital improvements revolving loan fund moneys obtained from federal or private grants, or from other sources, which are to be used for any of the purposes authorized by this chapter. Such moneys shall be allocated each year in accordance with division (B)(4) of this section.

(3) Moneys deposited into the state capital improvements revolving loan fund shall be used to make loans for the purpose of financing or assisting in the financing of the cost of capital improvement projects of local subdivisions.

(4) Investment earnings credited to the state capital improvements revolving loan fund that exceed the amounts required to meet estimated federal arbitrage rebate requirements shall be used to pay costs incurred by the public works commission in administering this section. Investment earnings credited to the state capital improvements revolving loan fund that exceed the amounts required to pay for the administrative costs and estimated rebate requirements shall be allocated to each district on a per capita basis.

(5) Each program year, loan repayments received and on deposit in the state capital improvements revolving loan fund shall be allocated as follows:

(a) Each district public works integrating committee shall be allocated an amount equal to the sum of all loan repayments made to the state capital improvements revolving loan fund by local subdivisions that are part of the district. Moneys not used in a program year may be used in the next program year in the same manner and for the same purpose as originally allocated.

(b) Loan repayments made pursuant to projects approved under division (B)(1) of this section shall be used to make loans in accordance with section 164.051 and division (D) of section 164.06 of the Revised Code. Allocations for this purpose made pursuant to division (C)(5) of this section shall be in addition to the allocation provided in division (B)(1) of this section.

(c) Loan repayments made pursuant to projects approved under division (B)(2) of this section shall be used to make loans in accordance with division (B)(2) of this section. Allocations for this purpose made pursuant to division (C)(5) of this section shall be in addition to the allocation provided in division (B)(2) of this section.

(d) Loans made from the state capital improvements revolving loan fund shall not be limited in their usage by divisions (E), (F), (G), (H), and (I) of section 164.05 of the Revised Code.

(D) Investment earnings credited to the state capital improvements fund that exceed the amounts required to meet estimated federal arbitrage rebate requirements shall be used to pay costs incurred by the public works commission in administering sections 164.01 to 164.12 of the Revised Code.

(E) The director of the Ohio public works commission shall notify the director of budget and management of the amounts allocated pursuant to this section and such information shall be entered into the state accounting system. The director of budget and management shall establish appropriation line items as needed to track these allocations.

(F) If the amount of a district's allocation in a program year exceeds the amount of financial assistance approved for the district by the commission for that year, the remaining portion of the district's allocation shall be added to the district's allocation pursuant to division (B) of this section for the next succeeding year for use in the same manner and for the same purposes as it was originally allocated, except that any portion of a district's allocation which was available for use on new or expanded infrastructure pursuant to division (H) of section 164.05 of the Revised Code shall be available in succeeding years only for the repair and replacement of existing infrastructure.

(G) When an allocation based on population is made by the director pursuant to division (B) of this section, the director shall use the most recent decennial census statistics, and shall not make any reallocations based upon a change in a district's population.

Last updated April 26, 2022 at 4:20 PM

Section 164.09 | Issuing and sale of general obligations.

• Effective: September 29, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 119 - 127th General Assembly

(A) The issuer is authorized to issue and sell, as provided in this section and in amounts from time to time authorized by the general assembly, general obligations of this state for the purpose of financing or assisting in the financing of the costs of public infrastructure capital improvements for local subdivisions. The full faith and credit, revenues, and taxing power of the state are and shall be pledged to the timely payment of bond service charges on outstanding obligations, all in accordance with Section 2k or 2m of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution and sections 164.09 to 164.12 of the Revised Code, excluding from that pledge fees, excises, or taxes relating to the registration, operation, or use of vehicles on the public highways, or to fuels used for propelling those vehicles, and so long as such obligations are outstanding there shall be levied and collected excises and taxes, excluding those excepted above, in amounts sufficient to pay the bond service charges on such obligations and costs relating to credit facilities.

(B)(1) The total principal amount of obligations issued pursuant to Section 2k of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution shall not exceed one billion two hundred million dollars, and not more than one hundred twenty million dollars in principal amount of obligations may be issued in any calendar year, all determined as provided in sections 164.09 to 164.12 of the Revised Code.

(2) The total principal amount of obligations issued for the purposes of this section pursuant to Section 2m of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, shall not exceed one billion two hundred million dollars. Not more than one hundred twenty million dollars in principal amount of such obligations, plus the principal amount of such obligations that in any prior fiscal years could have been but were not issued within the one-hundred-twenty-million-dollar fiscal year limit, may be issued in any fiscal year. No obligations shall be issued for the purposes of this section pursuant to Section 2m of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution, until at least one billion one hundred ninety-nine million five hundred thousand dollars aggregate principal amount of obligations have been issued pursuant to Section 2k of Article VIII, Ohio Constitution. The amounts specified under division (B)(2) of this section shall be determined as provided in sections 164.09 to 164.12 of the Revised Code.

(C) Each issue of obligations shall be authorized by order of the issuer. The bond proceedings shall provide for the principal amount or maximum principal amount of obligations of an issue, and shall provide for or authorize the manner or agency for determining the principal maturity or maturities, not exceeding the earlier of thirty years from the date of issuance of the particular obligations or thirty years from the date the debt represented by the particular obligations was originally contracted, the interest rate or rates, the date of and the dates of payment of interest on the obligations, their denominations, and the establishment within or without the state of a place or places of payment of bond service charges. Sections 9.96 and 9.98 to 9.983 of the Revised Code are applicable to the obligations. The purpose of the obligations may be stated in the bond proceedings as "financing or assisting in the financing of local subdivisions capital improvement projects."

(D) The proceeds of the obligations, except for any portion to be deposited in special funds, or in escrow funds for the purpose of refunding outstanding obligations, all as may be provided in the bond proceedings, shall be deposited to the state capital improvements fund established by section 164.08 of the Revised Code.

(E) The issuer may appoint paying agents, bond registrars, securities depositories, and transfer agents, and may retain the services of financial advisers and accounting experts, and retain or contract for the services of marketing, remarketing, indexing, and administrative agents, other consultants, and independent contractors, including printing services, as are necessary in the issuer's judgment to carry out sections 164.01 to 164.12 of the Revised Code. Financing costs are payable, as provided in the bond proceedings, from the proceeds of the obligations, from special funds, or from other moneys available for the purpose.

(F) The bond proceedings, including any trust agreement, may contain additional provisions customary or appropriate to the financing or to the obligations or to particular obligations, including but not limited to:

(1) The redemption of obligations prior to maturity at the option of the state or of the holder or upon the occurrence of certain conditions at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as are provided in the bond proceedings;

(2) The form of and other terms of the obligations;

(3) The establishment, deposit, investment, and application of special funds, and the safeguarding of moneys on hand or on deposit, without regard to Chapter 131. or 135. of the Revised Code, but subject to any special provisions of this section with respect to particular funds or moneys, and provided that any bank or trust company that acts as a depository of any moneys in special funds may furnish such indemnifying bonds or may pledge such securities as required by the issuer;

(4) Any or every provision of the bond proceedings binding upon the issuer and such state agency or local subdivision, officer, board, commission, authority, agency, department, or other person or body as may from time to time have the authority under law to take such actions as may be necessary to perform all or any part of the duty required by such provision;

(5) The maintenance of each pledge, any trust agreement, or other instrument comprising part of the bond proceedings until the state has fully paid or provided for the payment of the bond service charges on the obligations or met other stated conditions;

(6) In the event of default in any payments required to be made by the bond proceedings, or any other agreement of the issuer made as a part of a contract under which the obligations were issued or secured, the enforcement of such payments or agreements by mandamus, suit in equity, action at law, or any combination of the foregoing;

(7) The rights and remedies of the holders of obligations and of the trustee under any trust agreement, and provisions for protecting and enforcing them, including limitations on rights of individual holders of obligations;

(8) The replacement of any obligations that become mutilated or are destroyed, lost, or stolen;

(9) Provision for the funding, refunding, or advance refunding or other provision for payment of obligations which will then no longer be outstanding for purposes of this section or of the bond proceedings;

(10) Any provision that may be made in bond proceedings or a trust agreement, including provision for amendment of the bond proceedings;

(11) Such other provisions as the issuer determines, including limitations, conditions, or qualifications relating to any of the foregoing;

(12) Any other or additional agreements with the holders of the obligations relating to the obligations or the security for the obligations.

(G) The great seal of the state or a facsimile of that seal may be affixed to or printed on the obligations. The obligations requiring signature by the issuer shall be signed by or bear the facsimile signature of the issuer as provided in the bond proceedings. Any obligations may be signed by the person who, on the date of execution, is the authorized signer although on the date of such obligations such person was not the issuer. In case the person whose signature or a facsimile of whose signature appears on any obligation ceases to be the issuer before delivery of the obligation, such signature or facsimile is nevertheless valid and sufficient for all purposes as if the person had remained the member until such delivery, and in case the seal to be affixed to or printed on obligations has been changed after the seal has been affixed to or a facsimile of the seal has been printed on the obligations, that seal or facsimile seal shall continue to be sufficient as to those obligations and obligations issued in substitution or exchange therefor.

(H) The obligations are negotiable instruments and securities under Chapter 1308. of the Revised Code, subject to the provisions of the bond proceedings as to registration. Obligations may be issued in coupon or in fully registered form, or both, as the issuer determines. Provision may be made for the registration of any obligations with coupons attached as to principal alone or as to both principal and interest, their exchange for obligations so registered, and for the conversion or reconversion into obligations with coupons attached of any obligations registered as to both principal and interest, and for reasonable charges for such registration, exchange, conversion, and reconversion. Pending preparation of definitive obligations, the issuer may issue interim receipts or certificates which shall be exchanged for such definitive obligations.

(I) Obligations may be sold at public sale or at private sale, and at such price at, above, or below par, as determined by the issuer in the bond proceedings.

(J) In the discretion of the issuer, obligations may be secured additionally by a trust agreement between the state and a corporate trustee which may be any trust company or bank having a place of business within the state. Any trust agreement may contain the order authorizing the issuance of the obligations, any provisions that may be contained in the bond proceedings, and other provisions that are customary or appropriate in an agreement of the type.

(K) Except to the extent that their rights are restricted by the bond proceedings, any holder of obligations, or a trustee under the bond proceedings, may by any suitable form of legal proceedings protect and enforce any rights under the laws of this state or granted by the bond proceedings. Such rights include the right to compel the performance of all duties of the issuer and the state. Each duty of the issuer and the issuer's employees, and of each state agency and local public entity and its officers, members, or employees, undertaken pursuant to the bond proceedings, is hereby established as a duty of the issuer, and of each such agency, local subdivision, officer, member, or employee having authority to perform such duty, specifically enjoined by the law and resulting from an office, trust, or station within the meaning of section 2731.01 of the Revised Code. The persons who are at the time the issuer, or the issuer's employees, are not liable in their personal capacities on any obligations or any agreements of or with the issuer relating to obligations or under the bond proceedings.

(L) Obligations are lawful investments for banks, societies for savings, savings and loan associations, deposit guarantee associations, trust companies, trustees, fiduciaries, insurance companies, including domestic for life and domestic not for life, trustees or other officers having charge of sinking and bond retirement or other special funds of political subdivisions and taxing districts of this state, the commissioners of the sinking fund, the administrator of workers' compensation, the state teachers retirement system, the public employees retirement system, the school employees retirement system, and the Ohio police and fire pension fund, notwithstanding any other provisions of the Revised Code or rules adopted pursuant thereto by any state agency with respect to investments by them, and are also acceptable as security for the deposit of public moneys.

(M) Unless otherwise provided in any applicable bond proceedings, moneys to the credit of or in the special funds established by or pursuant to this section may be invested by or on behalf of the issuer only in notes, bonds, or other direct obligations of the United States or of any agency or instrumentality of the United States, in obligations of this state or any political subdivision of this state, in certificates of deposit of any national bank located in this state and any bank, as defined in section 1101.01 of the Revised Code, subject to inspection by the superintendent of financial institutions, in the Ohio subdivision's fund established pursuant to section 135.45 of the Revised Code, in no-front-end-load money market mutual funds consisting exclusively of direct obligations of the United States or of an agency or instrumentality of the United States, and in repurchase agreements, including those issued by any fiduciary, secured by direct obligations of the United States or an agency or instrumentality of the United States, and in collective investment funds established in accordance with section 1111.14 of the Revised Code and consisting exclusively of direct obligations of the United States or of an agency or instrumentality of the United States, notwithstanding division (A)(1)(c) of that section. The income from investments shall be credited to such special funds or otherwise as the issuer determines in the bond proceedings, and the investments may be sold or exchanged at such times as the issuer determines or authorizes.

(N) Unless otherwise provided in any applicable bond proceedings, moneys to the credit of or in a special fund shall be disbursed on the order of the issuer, provided that no such order is required for the payment from the bond service fund or other special fund when due of bond service charges or required payments under credit facilities.

(O) The issuer may covenant in the bond proceedings, and any such covenants shall be controlling notwithstanding any other provision of law, that the state and the applicable officers and agencies of the state, including the general assembly, so long as any obligations are outstanding in accordance with their terms, shall maintain statutory authority for and cause to be charged and collected taxes, excises, and other receipts of the state so that the receipts to the bond service fund shall be sufficient in amounts to meet bond service charges and for the establishment and maintenance of any reserves and other requirements, including payment of financing costs, provided for in the bond proceedings.

(P) The obligations, and the transfer of, and the interest and other income from, including any profit made on the sale, transfer, or other disposition of, the obligations shall at all times be free from taxation, direct or indirect, within the state.

(Q) Unless a judicial action or proceeding challenging the validity of obligations is commenced by personal service on the treasurer of state prior to the initial delivery of an issue of the obligations, the obligations of that issue and the bond proceedings pertaining to that issue are incontestable and those obligations shall be conclusively considered to be and to have been issued, secured, payable, sold, executed, and delivered, and the bond proceedings relating to them taken, in conformity with law if all of the following apply to the obligations:

(1) They state that they are issued under the provisions of this section and comply on their face with those provisions;

(2) They are issued within the limitations prescribed by this section;

(3) Their purchase price has been paid in full;

(4) They state that all the bond proceedings were held in compliance with law, which statement creates a conclusive presumption that the bond proceedings were held in compliance with all laws, including section 121.22 of the Revised Code, where applicable, and rules.

(R) This section applies only with respect to obligations issued and delivered before September 30, 2000.

Section 164.10 | State capital improvements bond service fund.

• Effective: September 14, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 640 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) There is hereby created in the state treasury the "state capital improvements bond service fund." All moneys received by the state and required by the bond proceedings, consistent with sections 164.08 to 164.12 of the Revised Code, to be deposited, transferred, or credited to the bond service fund, and all other moneys transferred or allocated to or received for the purposes of that fund, shall be deposited and credited to the bond service fund and to any separate accounts in that fund, subject to any applicable provisions of the bond proceedings but without necessity for any act of appropriation. During the period beginning with the date of the first issuance of obligations and continuing during such time as any obligations are outstanding in accordance with their terms, so long as moneys in the bond service fund are insufficient to pay all bond service charges on such obligations, including costs of or payments under credit enhancement facilities, becoming due in each year, except the principal amounts of bond anticipation notes and costs of or payments under credit enhancement facilities payable from the proceeds of renewal notes or of the bonds anticipated by such notes, a sufficient amount of moneys of the state is committed and, without necessity for further act of appropriation, shall be paid to the bond service fund in each year for the purpose of paying those bond service charges, including costs of or payments under credit enhancement facilities, becoming due in that year. The bond service fund is a trust fund and is hereby pledged to the payment of bond service charges, including costs of or payments under credit enhancement facilities to the extent provided in the applicable bond proceedings, and payment of bond service charges, including costs of or payments under credit enhancement facilities, from the bond service fund shall be made or provided for by the issuer in accordance with the bond proceedings without necessity for any act of appropriation.

(B) The bond proceedings may provide for the establishment of separate accounts in the bond service fund and for the application of such accounts only to the specific bond service charges on obligations, including costs of or payments under credit enhancement facilities, pertinent to such accounts and for other accounts therein within the general purposes of the bond service fund.

(C) Subject to the bond proceedings for any obligations then outstanding in accordance with their terms, the issuer may pledge all, or such portion as the issuer determines, of the receipts of the bond service fund to the payment of bond service charges on obligations, including costs of or payments under credit enhancement facilities, and for the establishment and maintenance of any reserves for payment of bond service charges, including costs of or payments under credit enhancement facilities, as provided in the bond proceedings, and make other provisions therein with respect to receipts as authorized by this section which provisions shall be controlling notwithstanding any other provisions of law pertaining thereto.

Section 164.12 | Preventing adverse effects on federal income tax.

• Effective: March 29, 1988
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 704 - 117th General Assembly

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the issuer, state agencies, and local subdivisions may covenant and agree to do or cause or require to be done all things necessary for, and not to do or permit or authorize to be done anything that would adversely affect, the exclusion of interest on the obligations from gross income for federal income tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code, or the classification or qualification of the obligations or the interest on the obligations for, or their exemption from, other treatment under the Internal Revenue Code, including but not limited to compliance with the provisions for payment of certain investment earnings to the United States in accordance with section 148(f) of the Internal Revenue Code. Those sections and covenants and compliance therewith shall be valid, incontestable, final, and conclusive to the extent that they support that exclusion from gross income or support those classifications or qualifications. This authorization in this paragraph is solely for the purpose of satisfying those federal conditions or requirements, and is in addition to and not a limitation upon other authorization granted by or pursuant to law or the Ohio Constitution, and does not preclude or exclude any actions or covenants by the issuer, state agencies, local public entities, or officer to satisfy the federal conditions or requirements for the purpose. Subject to the terms of those covenants, compliance with covenants referred to in this section by the issuer, state agencies, local subdivisions, and those officers are acts specially enjoined by law as duties resulting from their office, trust, and station for purposes of section 2731.01 of the Revised Code. The issuer, state agencies, local subdivisions, and those officers, employees and agents responsible in the circumstances, shall do all things necessary or appropriate to comply with such covenants and shall take all actions to account for, calculate, report, make available, and pay moneys pursuant to section 148(f) of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent required to comply with such covenants. For those purposes:

(A) Moneys from the funds to which any such investment earnings are credited, and if there be any insufficiency therein then any fund generally available for the general purposes of the responsible agency, are appropriated and shall be deemed to be appropriated for all purposes to the payment of such amounts pursuant to such covenant. Subject to the provisions of the bond proceedings and notwithstanding any statutory or administrative limitations on the use or transfer of those funds or receipts, the appropriate official may withdraw or transfer from the fund or funds, or direct the deposit from receipts, designated for the purpose, and deposit in or credit to the fund or account established for the purpose, which establishment is hereby authorized, any amounts computed at the time to represent the portion of investment income required to be rebated and paid to the United States in order to maintain the exclusion from gross income for federal income tax purposes of interest on those obligations pursuant to section 148(f) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(B) The issuer may invest or provide for the investment of any proceeds or gross proceeds, as defined in the Internal Revenue Code, of the obligations in tax-exempt bonds of any person authorized to issue of tax-exempt bonds under the Internal Revenue Code, and in any regulated investment company the investment in which is treated as an investment in tax-exempt bonds for purposes of, and in any special series of obligations of the United States made available for purposes of compliance with, the provisions of section 148 of the Internal Revenue Code. The authority to invest proceeds under this section is in addition to and not restricted or conditioned by any other authority to invest moneys.

Nothing in sections 164.08 to 164.12 of the Revised Code or other provisions of law requires compliance with provisions of federal tax law or regulations to exclude interest on the obligations from gross income for federal income tax purposes or otherwise have the obligations or interest on the obligations treated in any particular way under federal tax laws, except to the extent, if any, that the issuer covenants to do so, and the validity of the obligations shall not be adversely affected by the absence of that compliance or of compliance with any related covenants made pursuant to those sections.

(C) As used in this section, "Internal Revenue Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 1, as amended.

Section 164.14 | Local transportation improvement program fund.

• Effective: January 1, 2018
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 26 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) The local transportation improvement program fund is hereby created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of moneys credited to it pursuant to sections 117.16 and 5735.051 of the Revised Code, and, subject to the limitations of section 5735.05 of the Revised Code, shall be used to make grants to local subdivisions for projects that have been approved by district public works integrating committees and the Ohio public works commission in accordance with this section. The fund shall be administered by the Ohio public works commission, and shall be allocated each fiscal year on a per capita basis to district public works integrating committees in accordance with the most recent decennial census statistics. Money in the fund may be used to pay reasonable costs incurred by the commission in administering this section. Investment earnings on moneys credited to the fund shall be retained by the fund.

(B) Grants awarded under this section may provide up to one hundred per cent of the estimated total cost of the project.

(C) No grant shall be awarded for a project under this section unless the project is designed to have a useful life of at least seven years, except that the average useful life of all such projects for which grants are awarded in each district during a fiscal year shall be not less than twenty years.

(D) For the period beginning on July 1, 1989, and ending on June 30, 1994, and for each succeeding five-year period, at least one-third of the total amount of money allocated to each district from the local transportation improvement program fund shall be awarded as follows:

(1) Forty-two and eight-tenths per cent for projects of municipal corporations;

(2) Thirty-seven and two-tenths per cent for projects of counties;

(3) Twenty per cent for projects of townships, except that the requirement of division (D)(3) of this section shall not apply in districts where the combined population of the townships in the district is less than five per cent of the population of the district.

(E) Each district public works integrating committee shall review, and approve or disapprove requests submitted to it by local subdivisions for assistance from the local transportation improvement program fund. In reviewing projects submitted to it, a district public works integrating committee shall consider the following factors:

(1) Whether the project is of critical importance to the safety of the residents of the local subdivision;

(2) Whether the project would alleviate serious traffic problems or hazards or would respond to needs caused by rapid growth and development;

(3) Whether the project would assist the local subdivision in attaining the transportation infrastructure needed to pursue significant and specific economic development opportunities;

(4) The availability of other sources of funding for the project;

(5) The adequacy of the planning for the project and the readiness of the local subdivision to proceed should the project be approved;

(6) The local subdivision's ability to pay for and history of investing in bridge and highway improvements;

(7) The impact of the project on the multijurisdictional highway and bridge needs of the district;

(8) The requirements of divisions (A), (B), (C), and (D) of this section;

(9) The condition of the infrastructure system proposed for improvement;

(10) Any other factors related to the safety, orderly growth, or economic development of the district or local subdivision that the district public works integrating committee considers relevant.

A district public works integrating committee or its executive committee may appoint a subcommittee to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities under this section.

(F) Every project approved by a district public works integrating committee shall be submitted to the Ohio public works commission for its review and approval or disapproval. The commission shall not approve any project that fails to meet the requirements of this section.

(G) Grants awarded from the local transportation improvement program fund shall not be limited in their usage by divisions (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), and (I) of section 164.05 of the Revised Code.

(H) As used in this section, "local subdivision" means a county, municipal corporation, or township.

(I) The director of the Ohio public works commission shall notify the director of budget and management of the amounts allocated pursuant to this section, and the allocation information shall be entered into the state accounting system. The director of budget and management shall establish appropriation line items as needed to track these allocations.

Section 164.15 | Township contract to pay costs of engineering services.

• Effective: March 28, 1990
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 318 - 118th General Assembly

Notwithstanding any other section of the Revised Code, a board of township trustees may enter into a contract with the county engineer under which the board agrees to pay all or any part of the cost of engineering services to be provided to or obtained for the township by the county engineer that are necessary for projects awarded under this chapter.

Section 164.16 | Appurtenances to roads and bridges to enhance safety of animal-drawn vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles.

• Effective: April 7, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 70 - 124th General Assembly

In the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, planning, or equipping of appurtenances to roads and bridges to enhance the safety of animal-drawn vehicles, pedestrians, and bicycles, eligible activities include, but are not limited, to the following:

(A) Constructing or widening shoulders, including widening of bridges and culverts and purchase of rights-of-way, if necessary;

(B) Constructing pull-off lanes for roadways with visibility issues;

(C) Improving vertical and horizontal curvature of roadways;

(D) Placement of warning signs for animal-drawn vehicle traffic, including automated flashing signs.

Section 164.20 | Natural resource project definitions.

• Effective: July 21, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 397 - 134th General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding section 164.01 of the Revised Code, as used in sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code, "local political subdivision" means a county, municipal corporation, township, conservancy district, soil and water conservation district, lake facilities authority, joint recreation district, park district, or other similar park authority.

(B) As used in sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code, "nonprofit organization" means an environmental and conservation organization that is exempt from federal income taxation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. 501(a) and described in 26 U.S.C. 501(c) and formed to protect the natural environment.

(C) For the purposes of sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code, the definition of "project" in section 164.01 of the Revised Code does not apply.

Last updated April 26, 2022 at 4:20 PM

Section 164.21 | Natural resources assistance councils.

• Effective: July 26, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 3 - 124th General Assembly

(A) Each district public works integrating committee or, if applicable, the executive committee of the integrating committee shall appoint a natural resources assistance council consisting of eleven members. Of the eleven members, one shall be a member of the appointing integrating committee and one shall represent a soil and water conservation district that is located within the geographical jurisdiction of the appointing integrating committee. The nine other members of the council shall be appointed from the following categories of organizations, units of government, or agencies and shall include at least one member from each of those categories:

(1) A county, municipal corporation, township, conservancy district, regional or joint district or unit of local government, or regional or joint political subdivision that is located within the geographical jurisdiction of the appointing integrating committee;

(2) A conservation organization, an environmental advocacy organization, an organization with a primary interest in watershed protection and restoration, the department of natural resources, the environmental protection agency, or the United States natural resources conservation service;

(3) A city park system or metropolitan park system or a board of park commissioners from a county that is located within the geographical jurisdiction of the appointing integrating committee, a statewide parks and recreation organization, or the United States national park service;

(4) A statewide organization representing agriculture, an organization representing forestry interests, the department of agriculture, or the United States department of agriculture;

(5) An organization representing business, local realtors, or a planning agency, including a port authority, located within the geographical jurisdiction of the appointing integrating committee.

No organization, unit of government, or agency that is listed in divisions (A)(1) to (5) of this section shall be represented by more than one member on the council at any given time. The membership of a natural resources assistance council shall reflect the demographic and economic diversity of the population located within the geographical area represented by the council.

A council shall be appointed by the appropriate integrating committee not later than ninety days after the effective date of this section. Of the initial members appointed to the council, four shall be appointed for one year, four shall be appointed for two years, and three shall be appointed for three years. Thereafter, terms of office for members of the council shall be for three years, with each term ending on the same day of the same month as did the term that it succeeds. Each member shall hold office from the date of appointment until the end of the term for which the member is appointed, except that, with respect to any member who is an elected or appointed official of a township, municipal corporation, or county, the term of office for that person on the council shall not extend beyond the member's term as an elected or appointed official.

Members may be reappointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner provided for original appointments. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration date of the term for which the member was appointed shall hold office for the remainder of that term. A member shall continue in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first. Members may be removed by the district public works integrating committee for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office.

(B) A natural resources assistance council shall elect a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and other officers that the council considers appropriate. A council may adopt bylaws governing its operation, including bylaws that establish the frequency of regular meetings and any necessary procedures. All meetings of a council are subject to section 121.22 of the Revised Code.

(C) Serving as a member of a natural resources assistance council under this section does not constitute holding a public office or position of employment under the laws of this state and does not confer a right to compensation from any agency of this state. A member of a natural resources assistance council does not have an unlawful interest in a public contract under section 2921.42 of the Revised Code solely by virtue of the receipt of financial assistance under sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code by the local political subdivision of which the member is also a public official or appointee.

(D) Sections 101.82 to 101.87 of the Revised Code do not apply to natural resources assistance councils.

Section 164.22 | Eligible projects.

• Effective: July 21, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 397 - 134th General Assembly

Natural resources assistance councils shall review and approve or disapprove applications in accordance with sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code for grants for projects that propose to do any of the following:

(A) Provide for open space acquisition, including the acquisition of easements, or the related improvement of open spaces acquired with a grant awarded under sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code. Open space acquisition projects include acquisition of land or rights in land for parks, forests, wetlands, natural areas that protect an endangered plant or animal population, other natural areas, and connecting corridors for natural areas. Related improvement projects include projects for the construction or enhancement of facilities that are necessary to make an open space area accessible and useable by the general public. Projects proposed pursuant to division (A) of this section shall emphasize the following:

(1) The support of comprehensive open space planning and incorporation of aesthetically pleasing and ecologically informed design;

(2) The enhancement of economic improvement that relies on recreation and ecotourism in areas with relatively high unemployment and lower incomes;

(3) The protection of habitat for rare, threatened, and endangered species or the preservation of high quality, viable habitat for plant and animal species;

(4) The preservation of existing high quality wetlands or other scarce natural resources within the geographical jurisdiction of the council;

(5) The enhancement of educational opportunities and provision of physical links to schools and after-school centers;

(6) The preservation or restoration of water quality, natural stream channels, functioning floodplains, wetlands, streamside forests, and other natural features that contribute to the quality of life in this state and to the state's natural heritage. Projects shall not accelerate untreated water runoff or encourage invasive nonnative species.

(7) The reduction or elimination of nonnative, invasive species of plants or animals;

(8) The proper management of areas where safe fishing, hunting, and trapping may take place in a manner that will preserve a balanced natural ecosystem.

(B) Protect and enhance riparian corridors or watersheds, including the protection and enhancement of streams, rivers, lakes, and other waters of the state. Such projects may include, without limitation, the reforestation of land or the planting of vegetation for filtration purposes; the fee simple acquisition of lands for the purpose of providing access to riparian corridors or watersheds or for other purposes necessary for the protection and enhancement of riparian corridors or watersheds; and the acquisition of easements for the purpose of protecting and enhancing riparian corridors or watersheds. Projects proposed pursuant to division (B) of this section shall emphasize the following:

(1) The increase of habitat protection;

(2) Inclusion as part of a stream corridor-wide or watershed-wide plan;

(3) The provision of multiple recreational, economic, and aesthetic preservation benefits;

(4) The preservation or restoration of floodplain and streamside forest functions;

(5) The preservation of headwater streams;

(6) The restoration and preservation of aquatic biological communities.

Grant moneys may be used for preliminary costs related to projects that are eligible for funding under this section, including planning costs, design costs, engineering costs, costs of appraisals, environmental assessments, and archaeological surveys.

Last updated April 29, 2022 at 4:19 PM

Section 164.23 | Application for grant.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) An entity seeking a grant for a project that is eligible for funding under section 164.22 of the Revised Code shall submit an application to the natural resources assistance council with geographical jurisdiction over the proposed project area. Entities that are eligible for funding are limited to local political subdivisions and nonprofit organizations. The director of the Ohio public works commission shall develop the form of the application and shall provide application forms to each council. The application shall require at least all of the following:

(1) An identification of the local political subdivision or nonprofit organization that is responsible for the execution and completion of the proposed project;

(2) A detailed description of the proposed project;

(3) An identification of the areas that are proposed to be protected, restored, preserved, or constructed;

(4) Detailed information concerning the practices and procedures that will be undertaken to complete the project;

(5) A formal detailed estimate of the project's cost;

(6) The amount and nature of the moneys or resources to be used as matching funds for the project. Matching funds shall constitute not less than twenty-five per cent of the total cost of the project and may consist of contributions of money by any person, any local political subdivision, or the federal government or of contributions in-kind by such parties through the purchase or donation of equipment, land, easements, labor, or materials necessary to complete the project.

(7) An identification of any participation by state agencies that may have expertise regarding the particular project and that may provide assistance with respect to the project;

(8) Information concerning the coordination of the project among local political subdivisions, state agencies, federal agencies, community organizations, conservation organizations, and local business groups;

(9) Information about any coordination that the project will have with projects being undertaken under the jurisdiction of other natural resources assistance councils throughout the state under sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code;

(10) Information about public participation in the planning and execution of the project;

(11) Information about whether the general public will be given access to the project area upon the completion of the project;

(12) A timetable for completion of the proposed project.

(B) In addition to the application required under division (A) of this section, an applicant for a grant for a project shall include with the application all of the following:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (C) of this section, a copy of a resolution supporting the project from each county in which the proposed project is to be conducted and whichever of the following is applicable:

(a) If the proposed project is to be conducted wholly within the geographical boundaries of one township, a copy of a resolution supporting the project from the township;

(b) If the proposed project is to be conducted wholly within the geographical boundaries of one municipal corporation, a copy of a resolution supporting the project from the municipal corporation;

(c) If the proposed project is to be conducted in more than one, but fewer than five townships or municipal corporations, a copy of a resolution supporting the project from at least one-half of the total number of townships and municipal corporations in which the proposed project is to be conducted;

(d) If the proposed project is to be conducted in five or more townships or municipal corporations, a copy of a resolution supporting the project from at least three-fifths of the total number of townships and municipal corporations in which the proposed project is to be conducted.

However, if the applicant is a county and the proposed project is to be located wholly within the geographical boundaries of the county, the applicant shall not be required to include a copy of a resolution from any township or municipal corporation. If the applicant is a municipal corporation and the proposed project is to be located wholly within the geographical boundaries of the municipal corporation, the applicant shall not be required to include a copy of a resolution from the county in which it is located. If the applicant is a township and the proposed project is to be located wholly within the geographical boundaries of the township, the applicant shall not be required to include a copy of a resolution from the county in which it is located.

(2) Documentation that demonstrates that the applicant has the capacity, financial or otherwise, to complete the project for which the grant is sought and to provide any necessary ongoing maintenance of the project;

(3) Documentation that indicates compliance with division (A) of section 164.26 of the Revised Code related to the long-term ownership or control of the property that is the subject of the grant application.

(C) Prior to submitting an application for a grant for a project under this section, an applicant that is a park district or other similar park authority shall consult with the legislative authority of each county, township, and municipal corporation in which the proposed project will be located.

(D) Upon receipt of an application under division (A) of this section and the information required under division (B) of this section, a council may request additional information concerning the proposed project to which the application and information apply. Upon receiving such a request, the entity proposing the project shall provide the additional information requested.

Last updated September 14, 2023 at 2:17 PM

Section 164.24 | Reviewing application.

• Effective: October 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly

(A) A natural resources assistance council shall review each application for a grant submitted under section 164.23 of the Revised Code. In reviewing an application for the purpose of determining whether to approve or disapprove the application, a council shall consider all of the following criteria:

(1) Whether the project emphasizes the factors specified in division (A) or (B) of section 164.22 of the Revised Code;

(2) The amount of funding that is necessary for the completion of the project;

(3) The amount and percentage of the matching funds provided under the proposal;

(4) The level of coordination among local political subdivisions, state agencies, federal agencies, community organizations, conservation organizations, and local business groups;

(5) The level of coordination with projects being undertaken under the jurisdiction of other natural resources assistance councils throughout the state under sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code;

(6) The relative economic, social, and environmental benefits that the proposed project will bring to the geographical area represented by the council as compared to other proposed projects;

(7) Whether the project incorporates more than one purpose for which grant moneys may be used as specified in section 164.22 of the Revised Code;

(8) Whether the general public will be given access to the project area upon the completion of the project;

(9) Whether the project will comply with all of the requirements established in sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code;

(10) The readiness of the applicant to proceed with the project;

(11) Any other factors that are relevant to the project.

(B) A natural resources assistance council shall establish a prioritization and selection methodology system for applications submitted under section 164.23 of the Revised Code. The methodology shall be submitted to and approved by the director of the Ohio public works commission.

(C) In accordance with the methodology system established and approved under division (B) of this section, a natural resources assistance council shall approve or disapprove an application for a grant submitted to it after consideration of all of the criteria specified in divisions (A)(1) to (11) of this section. If the council approves an application, the council shall submit a copy of the application, along with all accompanying materials, to the Ohio public works commission for final approval or disapproval.

Last updated September 14, 2023 at 2:18 PM

Section 164.25 | Approving application.

• Effective: July 26, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 3 - 124th General Assembly

The director of the Ohio public works commission shall approve applications for grants submitted under sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code if all of the following apply:

(A) The approval of the application by the applicable natural resources assistance council was reasonably based on the criteria specified in divisions (A)(1) to (11) of section 164.24 of the Revised Code.

(B) The application for a grant and the proposed project for which the grant is to be used comply with all other requirements established under sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code.

(C) The amount of the financial assistance, when added to all other financial assistance provided during the calendar year for projects within the district for which a natural resources assistance council was appointed, does not exceed that district's allocation of money from the clean Ohio conservation fund under section 164.27 of the Revised Code.

Section 164.26 | Establishing policies for open space acquisition.

• Effective: July 21, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 397 - 134th General Assembly

(A) The director of the Ohio public works commission shall establish policies related to the need for long-term ownership, or long-term control through a lease or the purchase of an easement, of real property that is the subject of an application for a grant under sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code and establish requirements for documentation to be submitted by grant applicants that is necessary for the proper administration of this division. The policies shall provide for proper liquidated damages and grant repayment for entities that fail to comply with the long-term ownership or control requirements established under this division.

The director also shall adopt policies delineating what constitutes administrative costs for purposes of division (F) of section 164.27 of the Revised Code.

(B) The Ohio public works commission shall administer sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code and shall exercise any authority and use any procedures granted or established under sections 164.02 and 164.05 of the Revised Code that are necessary for that purpose.

(C) Technical assistance provided by the Ohio public works commission does not constitute approval or denial of an application submitted under section 164.23 of the Revised Code.

Last updated April 26, 2022 at 4:22 PM

Section 164.261 | Repayment of grant.

• Effective: September 15, 2014
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 483 - 130th General Assembly

All of the following apply to any repayment of a grant awarded under sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code:

(A) The Ohio public works commission shall deposit the grant repayment into the clean Ohio conservation fund created in section 164.27 of the Revised Code.

(B) The commission shall return the grant repayment to the natural resource assistance council that approved the grant application.

(C) The grant repayment shall be used for the same purpose as the grant was originally approved for, as provided in section 164.22 of the Revised Code.

Section 164.27 | Clean Ohio conservation fund.

• Effective: September 26, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 95 - 125th General Assembly

(A) The clean Ohio conservation fund is hereby created in the state treasury. Seventy-five per cent of the net proceeds of obligations issued and sold by the issuing authority pursuant to sections 151.01 and 151.09 of the Revised Code shall be deposited into the fund. Investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund and may be used to pay costs incurred by the Ohio public works commission in administering sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code. Moneys in the clean Ohio conservation fund shall be used to make grants to local political subdivisions and nonprofit organizations for projects that have been approved for grants under sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code.

The clean Ohio conservation fund shall be administered by the Ohio public works commission.

(B) For the purpose of grants issued under sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code, moneys shall be allocated on an annual basis from the clean Ohio conservation fund to districts represented by natural resources assistance councils as follows:

(1) Each district shall receive an amount that is equal to one-fourth of one per cent of the total annual amount allocated to all districts each year for each county that is represented by the district.

(2) The remaining moneys shall be allocated to each district annually on a per capita basis.

(C) A grant that is awarded under sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code may provide up to seventy-five per cent of the estimated cost of a project. Matching funds from a grant recipient may consist of contributions of money by any person, any local political subdivision, or the federal government or of contributions in-kind by such entities through the purchase or donation of equipment, land, easements, interest in land, labor, or materials necessary to complete the project.

(D) The director of the Ohio public works commission shall notify the director of budget and management of the amounts allocated pursuant to this section, and that information shall be entered in the state accounting system. The director of budget and management may establish appropriate line items or other mechanisms that are needed to track the allocations.

(E) Grants awarded under sections 164.20 to 164.27 of the Revised Code from the clean Ohio conservation fund shall be used by a local political subdivision or nonprofit organization only to pay the costs related to the purposes for which grants may be issued under section 164.22 of the Revised Code and shall not be used by a local political subdivision or nonprofit organization to pay any administrative costs incurred by the local political subdivision or nonprofit organization.