Bonds

Fire Station 36

Police and fire stations, fire trucks, municipal court

Fire Station 36

Glenwood Pool

Community centers, parks, pools, street trees

Glenwood Pool

Hilltop Police Substation

Police and fire stations, fire trucks, municipal court

Hilltop Police Substation

Kilbourne Run Sports Park

Community centers, parks, pools, street trees

Kilbourne Run Sports Park

Mulby Place Apartments

Income-qualified affordable rental housing and affordable home ownership opportunities

Mulby Place Apartments

2025 Voted Bond Package

Voter-approved bonds enable the City of Columbus to build affordable housing, parks, pools, police and fire stations, sidewalks and other community facilities – without raising taxes. Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Columbus City Council are placing a bond package on this November’s ballot that will help build the facilities and infrastructure for our growing city:

Neighborhood Development/Affordable Housing             $500 million

Income-qualified affordable rental housing and affordable home ownership opportunities

Public Utilities                                                                       $500 million

Water lines, sewer improvements, power infrastructure

Public Service                                                                       $400 million

Sidewalks, street resurfacing, bridge repairs, trash and recycling equipment

Recreation & Parks                                                               $250 million

Community centers, parks, pools, street trees

Safety, Health & Infrastructure                                            $250 million

Police and fire stations, fire trucks, municipal court

 

Your Bond Dollars at Work

+ What is a bond, and why does the City issue them?
When the City needs to build or improve capital projects like roads, fire stations, parks, or affordable housing, it often costs more than what’s available in the annual budget. Just like a family might take out a mortgage to buy a home, the City borrows money to pay for big, long-term projects—and pays it back over time.

 To finance our capital projects, the City sells bonds to investors. In return, the City promises to repay them with interest. This allows us to get started on major infrastructure projects now—without raising taxes.

Using bonds also supports a principle called generational equity. These investments—like streets, sidewalks, and water systems—will last for decades, so their costs are shared fairly across the people who use them today and in the future.

+ What is a “voted” bond?
A voted bond is a bond that requires approval by voters through a public election. When voters say “yes” to a bond package, they’re giving the City legal permission to borrow money for specific public improvements—such as affordable housing, street repairs, and public safety facilities.

Voter approval doesn’t just authorize the City to proceed—it also sends a strong signal to investors. When investors see public backing, they offer the City lower interest rates, which means we can do more with less.

+Will this raise my taxes?
No. The City has carefully managed its finances so that these investments can be made without increasing property taxes.

Here’s how it works: 25 cents of every dollar collected from Columbus’s income tax goes into a dedicated fund that’s used to repay debt on infrastructure projects. The City also uses a portion of utility revenues. Although voted bonds are legally backed by property taxes, Columbus has never had to raise property taxes to repay bond debt—not once since 1956.

Voters most recently approved bond packages in 2022, 2019, 2016, and 2013.

+ What kinds of projects do bond funds support?
Voter-approved bonds help the City build and maintain the things that keep neighborhoods safe, connected, and thriving. Past and current bond dollars have supported:

  • Affordable housing development
  • Fire and police station upgrades
  • Road and bridge repairs
  • New sidewalks and street lighting
  • Parks, pools, and green spaces
  • Water, sewer, and stormwater system upgrades
  • Environmental and resiliency projects

These are long-term investments in our quality of life—the things residents see and rely on every day.

+ Why use bonds instead of paying with cash?
Bonds allow the City to spread costs over time—matching the timeline of the asset’s usefulness.

They also allow the City to take advantage of its AAA/Aaa/AAA credit ratings, which means we can borrow at very low interest rates. That saves money and allows us to fund more projects with the same dollars.

And from a fairness standpoint, it ensures that future residents help pay for the infrastructure they’ll use, rather than placing the full financial burden on today’s taxpayers. 

+ How does the City decide what bond funds are used for?
The City starts by listening to the community. Before a bond package is put on the ballot, City leaders gather input from:

  • Area Commissions
  • Neighborhood and civic groups
  • Public feedback sessions
  • City departments with infrastructure needs

This public input helps guide what’s included in the bond package. Even after voter approval, many projects are shaped by ongoing engagement with residents to ensure investments align with local needs.

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