COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP): Voters in Northwest Ohio will have the chance to decide in May whether to renew a public works program that funds repairs and upgrades to roads, bridges and other local infrastructure needs.



The ballot issue would allow the state to borrow $1.875 billion over 10 years through the issuance of general obligation bonds. The money would be used by the Ohio Public Works Commission to give grants and loans to local governments for capital improvement projects. Those could include updates to roadways, wastewater treatment systems and sanitary collection.



The proposal had broad, bipartisan backing in the Legislature, whose support placed the issue on the primary ballot.



Gov. John Kasich (KAY'-sik) made the program's renewal a priority this year.



Voters first approved the bond issue in 1987 and have since reauthorized it twice.