COLUMBIANA COUNTY Commissioners ponder options in financial crisis

Imposing a tax increase or seeking it at the ballot box are the courses of action possible.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners have set a special meeting for tonight to decide how to address the county's financial crisis.
Commissioners announced the session Wednesday. It will take place immediately after the second of two hearings required to gather public input on the state of the county's financial affairs.
The public hearing is set for 5 p.m. in the commissioners' meeting room at the county courthouse.
Commissioners have two options in dealing with the fiscal crisis, Commissioner Dave Cranmer said Wednesday.
They can either impose a 0.5 percent increase in the county sales tax or place an issue on the November general election ballot, asking voters to approve the increase, which would bring in about $3 million annually.
Voters rejected a 0.5 percent sales tax increase on the May primary ballot.
Opposition
Should commissioners vote to impose a sales tax increase, it may be subjected to a referendum effort by county residents, who in the past have opposed imposition of a tax.
A successful referendum effort could stop the county from collecting revenue from an imposed increase.
Commissioners imposed a 0.5 percent tax increase in late December, but they rescinded the measure weeks later after opponents began a referendum effort.
Several county offices, including the sheriff's department, have either laid off staff or reduced their hours.
Commissioners also have been slapped with separate lawsuits filed by common pleas court judges and by the county Veterans Service Commission.
The judges contend commissioners are underfunding their operations by nearly $500,000.
The veterans agency says it is underfunded by about $100,000.