In addition to the authorization otherwise contained in Article VIII of the Ohio Constitution, the General Assembly may provide by law, in accordance with but subject to the limitations of this section, for the issuance of bonds and other obligations of the state for the purpose of financing or assisting in the financing of the cost of public infrastructure capital improvements of municipal corporations, counties, townships, and other governmental entities as designated by law. As used in this section, public infrastructure capital improvements shall be limited to roads and bridges, waste water treatment systems, water supply systems, solid waste disposal facilities, and storm water and sanitary collection, storage, and treatment facilities, including real property, interests in real property, facilities, and equipment related or incidental thereto. Capital improvements shall include without limitation the cost of acquisition, construction, reconstruction, expansion, improvement, planning, and equipping. You have explained that such definitions will help guide the county engineer in formulating public infrastructure capital improvement projects that satisfy the eligibility requirements for funding under R.C. Chapter 164. Correspondence from the county engineer that accompanies your request provides several examples of specific public infrastructure capital improvements, and he has asked whether those improvements constitute new infrastructure, or replacement of existing infrastructure.
Terms left undefined by statute are to be accorded their common, everyday meanings.
The Oxford English Dictionary, Compact Edition vol. To have place in the domain of reality, have objective being. To have being in a specified place or under specified conditions. To continue in being, maintain an existence. Used with the to distinguish the thing spoken of from something old, or already existing, of the same kind.