Mayor Andrew Ginther believes the next 15 years could be among the most consequential in city history.

What's happening: Columbus is growing rapidly, having added 100,000 people in the last decade, with even more expected in the coming years.

• A $1.5 billion bond package approved at the polls Tuesday ensures the city can continue providing essential services to this influx of residents, Ginther tells Axios.

Why it matters: The funds will help maintain everything from parks and playgrounds to sidewalks, streets and sewer systems, while also supporting new facilities, such as a replacement county courthouse.

• The five-part package also includes a $200 million investment in affordable housing initiatives, the largest in city history.

The intrigue: Unlike most tax issues, the bond package is unlikely to ever increase residents' property tax bills.

• The yes vote gives the city permission to borrow money, which it then pays back using a portion of income taxes paid by people who work within city limits, plus a part of residents' utility bills.
• The only way property taxes would increase is if those revenue streams can't cover costs. That hasn't happened since the arrangement started in 1956, Ginther says.

What they're saying: "This growth we're going to see, it's going to be dynamic," Ginther tells Axios. He's well aware that many mayors would love to have this problem.

• "I don’t view it as a challenge; I view it as an incredible opportunity," he says. "But it does require us to plan for and invest in our future."

The package includes:

🚓 Health, safety and infrastructure, $300 million

• A majority of these funds — $219 million — go toward the new downtown courthouse.
• Also funds fire vehicle replacements and police and fire facility improvements.

🌳 Recreation and parks, $200 million

• Improvements for parks, playgrounds, bikeways and recreation centers, including installing air conditioning in six facilities.

🏘️ Neighborhood development, $200 million

• $130 million toward construction of affordable rental units and homes.
• Also funds programs and permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness.

🚶 Public service, $250 million

• Pedestrian safety and sidewalk improvements, bridge rehabilitation, and street and alley resurfacing.

💡 Public utilities, $550 million

• Improving and maintaining water, sewer, stormwater, electric and street lighting systems.

Tomorrow is Veterans Day. Here's what's going on around town to honor those who have served our country:

Visit the National Veterans Memorial and Museum downtown, which says it's the only museum in the country honoring the comprehensive history of all branches of the military.

• Free admission for all tomorrow at 300 W. Broad St.
• Admission always free for veterans, active duty military members, Gold Star families and kids under 5 from 10am-5pm, Wednesday-Sunday.
• Regular tickets: $18 adults, $16 seniors, $13 college students and $11 ages 5-17.

Enjoy pancakes while attending a presentation at Westerville's Veterans Day Breakfast.

• 8:30-10:30am tomorrow at the Westerville Community Center, 350 N. Cleveland Ave.
• Tickets: $5, free for veterans.

The City of Dublin and the Wesley G. Davids Dublin Post 800 of the American Legion host their annual Veterans Day Ceremony.

• 11am tomorrow at the Grounds of Remembrance in Dublin Veterans Park, 77 N. High St.

Attend Gahanna's Veterans Memorial Committee brick dedication.

• 11am-1pm tomorrow. Veterans Memorial Park at 75 W. Johnstown Road.

Two more events

Ginther and the City Council proposed firearm legislation yesterday that defines and prohibits use of large-capacity magazines by anyone other than law enforcement. City Council said it has been working on this legislation for a while and will hold hearings and vote in the very near future. (WSYX-TV)

🗳️ Midterm voting was mostly smooth across the state, election protection groups say, outside of a few incidents of "heckling" and one instance where technical difficulties caused long waits. (Ohio Capital Journal)

🪖 Westerville is dedicating a new veterans memorial tomorrow. (CityScene Magazine)

Columbus police identified Valeria Saucedo as the 33-year-old pedestrian who was seriously injured after a pickup truck crashed into her and a child trick-or-treating on Halloween. They also clarified that she was a friend of 4-year-old Catherine Rodriguez, who was killed. (Columbus Dispatch)

🥜 The Peanut Shoppe is open again after a six-month closure due to downtown construction. (614 Magazine)

This year's midterm election was the most expensive yet, with national spending topping $16.7 billion for state and federal races, Bloomberg reports.

Zoom in: Ohio's front-and-center U.S. Senate candidates raised nearly $61 million combined through Oct. 19, per the Federal Election Commission. A post-election report is due Dec. 9.

• Tim Ryan raised a state-record breaking $48.1 million and spent $45.3 million.
• J.D. Vance raised "just" $12.8 million and spent $9.8 million, but still secured a victory.

🤔 Just how expensive was the race? Well, the total cash spent could buy over 2.3 million Thurmanators at the Thurman Cafe.

It could also:

• 🍨 Purchase 4.6 million pints of Jeni's ice cream ($12).
• 🏈 Buy all 102,780 seats for a game at Ohio Stadium, even if tickets cost $536 each.
• 💰 Give all 138,210 of Ohio's public school teachers a $400 bonus.
• 🎢 Take Columbus' 905,748 residents to Kings Island for the day ($55) with a few million left over.
• 👀 … and it would pay for a lot of Axios Columbus memberships. Just sayin'.

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