Opportunity City, the political action committee supporting Columbus' bond issue package on the ballot this November, is getting most of its funding from developers and people that stand to benefit from the $1.9 billion in public funds.
Columbus hopes city voters will pass Issues 5-9, giving the city borrowing power to fund affordable housing projects and improvements to parks, public safety, utilities and more. Less than three dozen donors put forward almost $600,000 to the PAC to fund the ads and mailers voters may be seeing ahead of Election Day on Nov. 4.
These companies and large dollar donors include Cleveland Browns and Columbus Crew owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam; Les Wexner's New Albany Company; Connect Housing Blocks' Brad DeHays; Woda Cooper Companies and more.
Most of the companies are the usual recipients who get public funds and contracts with the city to build housing projects and other large developments throughout the city. The companies and other donors could stand to benefit from future city projects this money uses.
Catherine Turcer with Common Cause Ohio said it's natural if voters question this money and its sources. She encouraged people to educate themselves on the bonds and the campaign finance reports backing them.
Turcer said it isn't always easy to tell if donations like this cross a line.
"Major corporations, when they give for a bond issue, there's generally an assumption that they will get something out of it," Turcer said. "Now, is it exactly pay to play, which is sometimes, we'll call that quid pro quo? Is it bribery? Probably not, although it can be... I think it's the wink and a nudge that makes things challenging."
Alexandra Baker with Opportunity City PAC said in an emailed statement it is pleased with the level of support it got to push for these bond investments. Baker expressed confidence in the bond passing.
"Columbus has a history of passing these bond packages dating back almost 80 years, and they’ve proven to be successful tools for our community’s growth," Baker said.
Baker and the PAC did not answer exactly how it solicited these donations or whether these companies have an expectation to be favored for future city contracts, tax incentives or other public funding.
"The campaign has been working hard with partners across the city to raise money to communicate with voters in this election and make sure we get out the vote as much as possible," Baker said. "Passing Issues 5-9 will be a transformative investment for the city, and we’re grateful for our community partners for investing in Columbus's future."
Who is donating to the Columbus bond campaign?
The 32 individual donors and companies giving to the bond campaign range from developers, to hospitals, to well-known Ohio billionaires. These donors and the amount they donated include:
- $20,000 from Huntington National Bank
- $20,000 from Woda Cooper Companies
- $15,000 from Ashley Wood with Wood Companies Real Estate
- $15,000 from Charter Communications
- $10,000 from Complete General Construction Co.
- $25,000 from DLZ Corporation
- $50,000 from the New Albany Company
- $10,000 from Ameresco Inc.
- $30,000 from MS Consultants Inc.
- $15,000 from Resource International Inc.
- $50,000 from Jimmy and Dee Haslam
- $25,000 from Nationwide Children's Hospital
- $25,000 from CK Construction Group Inc.
- $50,000 from the Edwards Company
- $15,000 from Brad DeHays, founder of Connect Realty LLC
- $15,000 from Pete Scantland, CEO of Orange Barrel Media LLC
- $40,000 from Adam Flatto, partner with Easton Towne Center II, LLC
Turcer pushes back on claim bond won't raise taxes
Ads urging a 'yes' vote on the bond package, mailers and the politicians campaigning on the issue like Mayor Andrew Ginther have all claimed the bonds won't raise taxes.
Baker said in her statement they are focusing on educating voters on he issue and about what’s in the bonds and how they invest in Columbus. Baker said the response has been positive because people recognize the need for affordable housing, safe streets and reliable utilities.
Baker explained Columbus repays bonds with existing revenues including 25% of income-tax collections and a portion of utility revenues.
"The city has never had to raise taxes to repay bonds," Baker said.
While that may be true, Turcer said the bonds could still end up raising city taxes. She said that is dependent upon the city having the revenue to pay back what it owes in the future.
"Bonds are not magic money. It means that we will not (raise taxes) today, but later will owe money and we will owe that money over a period of time," Turcer said.
Turcer said supporting bonds means that at some point the city will eventually owe the money and taxpayers will be responsible for footing the bill. She said it is natural for voters to question bonds when it is accompanied on the ballot by local levys, which do raise taxes.
"Clearly there are times that bonds are essential and important, but we should cast a little bit of side-eye and be very thoughtful when we think about who's actually paying for the ad," Turcer said.
Turcer said it is important not to just consider what's happening right now for the city and what's working right now when it comes to spending, but to be thoughtful about the possibility of the economy really changing.
She pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as a tumultuous time where the growth and certainty of public revenue may not be as readily available as it is now.
"It's important for us to remember that we're in a good position right now and these are the kinds of changes that will make the city better," Turcer said. "But it's also important to remember that in the long term, we may not have the kind of funds, in other words, taxpayer money, coming to the city that we do right now."
Early voting in Ohio continues until Nov. 2. Polls are open on Election Day between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
