Ballotpedia is covering seven local measures on Ohio ballots on May 5, 2026, including measures in Columbus, as well as in Lucas and Richland counties.

In Lucas County, voters are deciding on two countywide property tax measures: one to fund the public safety communications system and another to fund the zoo. Voters are also deciding on property tax measures in Springfield Local School District and Sylvania City School District.

In Columbus, voters will decide on a city charter amendment, while voters in the Pickerington Local School District, which partially overlaps with Columbus, will decide on an income tax measure.

The Columbus charter amendment, Amendment 2, would amend the city charter to establish a community crisis response system for certain 911 calls, providing services such as de-escalation, stabilization, and transportation. This system would send non-police responders, such as clinicians and case managers, as first responders in certain situations, such as calls involving behavioral health or homelessness, where there is not a substantial risk of death or bodily harm.

The amendment originated from a successful citizen initiative by the Columbus Safety Collective, which submitted enough signatures to qualify it for the ballot. Amendment No. 2 is an amended version of the citizen initiative, written by the Columbus City Council in collaboration with the Columbus Safety Collective. The City Council voted 9-0 to refer the measure to the ballot in March. Supporters of the measure include Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther (D), the ACLU of Ohio, and the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio.

The measure would also require the city council to establish a department to run the crisis response system, require the system to coordinate and integrate with the 911 emergency response system, and create a community crisis response advisory board to oversee the system.

In Richland County, voters will be deciding on a referendum on a county resolution prohibiting certain solar power facilities and wind power farms in 11 of the county’s 18 townships: Blooming Grove, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Mifflin, Monroe, Perry, Plymouth, Sharon, Troy, and Weller. The resolution was passed by the Richland County Board of Commissioners in July of 2025. Counties are authorized to adopt such restrictions under Ohio House Bill 52 (HB 52), enacted in 2021. HB 52 provided that boards of commissioners can prohibit, within unincorporated areas, wind projects capable of generating five megawatts or more and solar projects capable of generating 50 megawatts or more. HB 52 also provided that a veto referendum can be filed against the resolution.

A “yes” vote on the referendum would uphold this resolution, while a “no” vote would repeal it. The Richland County Citizens for Property Rights & Job Development (also known as No Ban on Property Rights), supporting the “no” vote, submitted enough valid signatures to put the referendum on the ballot. The Richland County Republican Party supports a “yes” vote, while the Richland County Democratic Party supports a “no” vote.

County Commissioner Darrell Banks, supporting a “yes” vote to uphold the resolution to prohibit certain solar and wind facilities, said, “The township trustees who were in favor of the prohibition strongly believe that they were representing the wishes of their residents, who are farming communities, who are not fans of seeing potential farmland being taken up for large wind and solar.”

No Ban on Property Rights, supporting a “no” vote, said, “Landowners have the right to decide how to use their property. Our leaders must protect our choice to develop clean energy resources on our land just as we would produce crops or raise livestock. Our farmland, our rights. Closing the door on all future solar development would also put a blanket prohibition on projects that could bring both jobs and much-needed tax revenue to the area.”

Voters will decide these measures on May 5, 2026.