Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 133.30 – Sale of securities

(A) As determined by the taxing authority, Chapter 133. securities may be sold by competitive bid on the best bid, or at private sale in a manner determined or authorized by the taxing authority, and at not less than ninety-seven per cent of their principal amount, plus accrued interest, and at an interest rate or rates not exceeding that determined by the taxing authority.
(B) As provided in this division, the taxing authority, or the fiscal officer if authorized by the taxing authority, may combine securities that are payable from property taxes and that are authorized for different permanent improvement purposes under separate legislation, each dealing with one purpose, into a single consolidated issue of securities for purposes of their sale as a single issue. A consolidated securities issue shall contain a summary statement of purposes encompassing the purposes stated in the separate legislation, and shall have maturities or principal payments consistent with the aggregate of the separate periodic maturities or principal payments if such maturities or payments are provided in the separate legislation. If the periodic maturities or principal payments are not provided in the separate legislation, a consolidated securities issue shall have maturities or principal payments as provided in the legislation authorizing the consolidated issue, consistent with the aggregate of the separate periodic maturities or principal payments determined in accordance with this chapter. Securities payable from property taxes to be levied outside the tax limitation and securities payable from property taxes subject to the tax limitation, and securities that are general obligations and securities that are not general obligations, may not be combined for sale in a consolidated issue of securities. The proceeds from the sale of a consolidated issue of securities shall be apportioned, deposited, and credited in accordance with section 133.32 of the Revised Code to the respective purposes and funds in accordance with the amount of securities authorized by the separate legislation for each different one purpose. If there are additional proceeds from the sale, they shall be apportioned, deposited, and credited as provided in the legislation authorizing the consolidated issue. To the extent a consolidated issue funds or refunds two or more issues of anticipatory securities authorized by separate legislation, each dealing with one purpose, all provisions for the consolidated issue may be included or provided for in a single piece of legislation, notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter or of other law.
(C) As used in this division (C), "bid" means bid or proposal. If to be sold by competitive bid on the best bid advertisement for bids shall be in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the securities are issued, or in a financial journal, or by distribution of a request for bids, or otherwise, in the manner and at the time or times determined by the taxing authority or by an officer of the subdivision authorized by the taxing authority to make that determination, and as provided in this division (C). A copy of the advertisement shall be provided at least ten days before the day for receipt of bids to the Ohio municipal advisory council, provided that failure to do so shall not affect the validity of the sale or of the securities.
1. (1) Any advertisement for competitive bids shall state all of the following pertaining to the securities:
  1. (a) The total or maximum principal amount;
  2. (b) The amount or amounts, and date or dates, of principal payments, or how and by whom they shall be determined, including any mandatory sinking fund requirements, and any provisions for call or redemption prior to maturity, including any mandatory sinking fund redemption requirements;
  3. (c) The maximum rate or rates of interest if any, any other limitations on interest or interest rates or the manner of determining the interest rate or rates, and any maximum permitted discount;
  4. (d) The dates of payment of interest;
  5. (e) The general purpose or purposes and the source or sources of payment;
  6. (f) The day, hour, and place, which place need not be in the subdivision, for receipt of bids, and the manner in which bids may be presented;
  7. (g) The basis on which the best bid will be determined, including, with respect to interest cost, the basis for determining interest cost if other than net interest cost determined by computing the interest payable to the stated maturity date or dates, plus any discount or minus any premium bid;
  8. (h) The bid security, if any, as determined by the taxing authority, to be submitted with or otherwise provided or evidenced in connection with a bid;
  9. (i) Any other information, or terms of sale determined or confirmed by the taxing authority or by its authorized officer, pertinent to the sale.
2. (2) A prospective bidder may present a bid for the securities, based upon their bearing interest that does not exceed the maximum rate or rates of interest, if any, specified in the advertisement or request. Every bidder shall submit or otherwise provide or evidence in connection with its bid any bid security in the form and amount specified in the advertisement or request. Any bid security of the best bidder shall be retained or not released pending delivery of the securities to the best bidder. After the award of the securities to the best bidder, the subdivision shall return or release any bid security of other bidders.
3. (3) The taxing authority may itself by legislation, or by the officer expressly authorized by and subject to any maximum or maximum average interest rate or rates stated in legislation, accept a bid, or the best bid determined in the manner prescribed by the taxing authority or advertisement, that is presented by a responsible bidder. The taxing authority or authorized officer may determine to reject any or all bids received and to waive any informality, irregularity, or defect.
(D) If not stated in the legislation filed with the county auditor, the fiscal officer shall in writing promptly advise the county auditor of each county in which any part of the subdivision is located of the interest rate or rates on all general obligation securities and other securities payable from property taxes maturing in more than one year from date of issuance.