Bonds
Fire Station 36
Police and fire stations, fire trucks, municipal court
Glenwood Pool
Community centers, parks, pools, street trees
Hilltop Police Substation
Police and fire stations, fire trucks, municipal court
Kilbourne Run Sports Park
Community centers, parks, pools, street trees
Mulby Place Apartments
Income-qualified affordable rental housing and affordable home ownership opportunities
2025 Voted Bond Package
Voter-approved bonds are financing tools that the City of Columbus uses to build affordable housing, parks, pools, police and fire stations, sidewalks and other community facilities. Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Columbus City Council placed a bond package on this November’s ballot to allow the City to issue bonds for the following facilities and infrastructure:
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.
+ 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; when voters say "no" to a bond package they are refusing to give the City legal permission to borrow money for these specific purposes.
+Is the voted bond package a tax?
No. Voted bonds are legally backed by property taxes but bonds are not a tax.
+How does the City finance the repayment of bonds?
Here's how the City finances the repayment of bonds: 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.
+Has the City financed projects with bonds in the past?
Voters most recently approved bond packages in 2022, 2019, 2016, and 2013.
+ What kinds of projects do bond funds support?
Voter-approved bonds have been used to construct a variety of facilities and public infrastructure improvements. 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
+ 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.
+ How does the City decide what bond funds are used for?
The City starts by listening to the community. 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.