Ohio law prohibits the governing body of a political subdivision from using public funds to support or oppose the passage of a levy or bond issue or to compensate any employee for time spent on an activity intended to influence the outcome of a levy or bond issue. In the most recent OSBA Legal Ledger Sidebar, Sara Clark and Jennie Hardin provide information to help your district navigate the legal landscape when a levy or bond issue is on the ballot.
For more information, districts are encouraged to review the Auditor of State’s FAQs related to Section 9.03 of the Ohio Revised Code’s prohibition against using public funds to support the passage of a political subdivision’s levy or bond issues.
If you have general questions on this topic, please contact us on the legal hotline at (855) OSBA-LAW. Questions about specific situations should be directed to your board’s legal counsel.