To Reduce Penalties for Crimes of Obtaining, Possessing, and Using Illegal Drugs

Proposed Constitutional Amendment

Proposed by Initiative Petition

To add a new Section 12 to Article XV of the Constitution of the State of Ohio

A majority yes vote is necessary for the amendment to pass.

LEAGUE EXPLANATION OF ISSUE 1

Issue 1, also known as The Amendment to Reduce Penalties for Crimes of Obtaining, Possessing, and Using Illegal Drugs, would add a new section 12 to Article XV of the Ohio Constitution. The amendment is designed to reduce the number of people in state prisons for low-level, nonviolent drug possession; drug use offenses; or for non-criminal probation violations. In addition, it would provide sentence credits for participation in rehabilitative programs; and is intended to direct the savings achieved by such reductions in incarceration to substance abuse treatment programs, crime victim programs, probation programs, graduated responses programs, and rehabilitation programs.

The amendment would:

• Reclassify drug offenses from felony to misdemeanor for both accused and convicted drug users.
• Require the state to spend savings due to a reduction of the number of prison inmates on drug treatment and rehabilitation programs.

8  - PROPOSED TAX LEVY (ADDITIONAL)

LORAIN COUNTY JOINT VOCATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

A Majority Affirmative Vote Is Necessary For Passage.

An additional tax for the benefit of the Lorain County Joint Vocational School District, Lorain, Erie and Huron Counties, Ohio for the purpose of general permanent improvements at a rate not exceeding 0.75 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.075 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for a continuing period of time, commencing in 2018, first due in calendar year 2019.

11 - PROPOSED BOND ISSUE

OBERLIN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

A Majority Affirmative Vote Is Necessary For Passage.

Shall bonds be issued by the Oberlin City School District for the purpose of constructing, adding to, renovating, remodeling, furnishing, equipping and otherwise improving school district buildings and facilities and acquiring, clearing, improving and equipping their sites in the principal amount of $17,760,000, to be repaid annually over a maximum period of 37 years, and an annual levy of property taxes be made outside the ten-mill limitation, estimated by the county auditor to average over the repayment period of the bond issue 4.8 mills for each one dollar of tax valuation, which amounts to $0.48 for each one hundred dollars of tax valuation, commencing in 2018, first due in calendar year 2019, to pay the annual debt charges on the bonds, and to pay debt charges on any notes issued in anticipation of those bonds?

Issue 14: 

14 - PROPOSED TAX LEVY (ADDITIONAL)

HUMAN OR SOCIAL SERVICES, HOSPITALIZATION AND HEALTH

LORAIN COUNTY

A Majority Affirmative Vote Is Necessary For Passage.

An additional tax for the benefit of Lorain County for the purposes of supporting Human or Social Services, Hospitalization and Health at a rate not exceeding 0.3 mill for each one dollar of valuation, which amounts to $0.03 for each one hundred dollars of valuation, for 5 years, commencing in 2018, first due in calendar year 2019.