Voters have been bombarded for weeks by organizations pushing their agendas for Issue 2.Supporters tell voters to remember “Kids Count,” while opposers say the issue won’t help kids at all.Today, voters get a chance to tell the state if they want a 1 cent sales tax increase or if they want the legislature to consider other alternatives for funding Ohio’s public primary and secondary schools. “Issue 2 is full of half-truths,” said Amy Smead, president of the Ohio League of Women Voters. “The whole thing was bad government.”The league decided to support Issue 1, which allows the state to pay for school repairs and maintenance through bonds, but oppose Issue 2. Spending specific amounts of money for repairs with bonds is allowed in the Ohio Constitution, Smead said.”Issue 2 is not a good gain for education,” Smead said. “It’s not going to produce enough money. I don’t feel that other areas (such as higher education) should have to feel threatened by the thought of it failing.”Yesterday, parties from both sides felt optimistic.Many administrators at OSU support Issue 2.”I feel comfortable that we have gotten our message out,” said Colleen O’Brien, director of state relations for OSU. “I think it will basically come down to (voter) turnout.”Residents of urban and suburban areas seem to be more in favor of the issue than residents in more rural parts of the state, O’Brien said.The Ohio School Board Association has encouraged communities to oppose Issue 2, because it believes other solutions would bring greater relief to the funding problem.”Once a person steps behind the curtain it’s all up to them,” said Scott Ebright, spokesman for the Ohio School Board Association. “We’re optimistic. Hopefully it will be defeated, but no one knows until the polls close.”The Ohio Department of Education, along with the State Board of Education, support Issue 2.Issue 2 is not a complete solution to funding problems in the state, but is a step in the right direction, said Stacie Lawell, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Education.Only half of 1 cent will go to schools while the other half will go to property tax relief, Smead said. It doesn’t go back to renters, she said.”We hope it is defeated,” Ebright said. “Voters can tell the legislature to go back and do it right.”Polls are open today to Ohio voters from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Members on both sides of the issue are urging voters to exercise their right to vote.