Canvassers will knock on Bluffton voter doors this week asking for signatures to place a voter-initiative on the November ballot.

The effort intends to replenish the Ohio Local Government Fund. If enough signatures are gathered and voters agree, the initiative places a surcharge on all Ohio vehicle owners who have vanity license plates, specialty plates, historical vehicle plates and motorcycle plates.

Although not yet confirmed, surcharge discussions range anywhere from $25 to $75 per plate, depending on the make, model and year of the vehicle, retroactive to 2013.

Revenue estimates range upwards of $500 million to the state treasury. Funds are earmarked for townships and villages with 7,500 persons or less, making Richland Township and the Village of Bluffton qualifying recipients.

Qualifying entities may use their LGF allotments for any of the following projects:
• Speed bumps on non-state highways
• artificial turfs for qualifying Division IV, V and VI school football and soccer fields
• Franking privileges (free postage) for village utility billing
• Establishment of an interest free loan program to provide paint to owners of barns built prior to 1944.

One group opposed to the initiative, called Stop Taxing Our Plates (STOP), will hold a meeting in Bluffton at 6 p.m., Monday, April First, in the Buckeye Park Pavilion.