MAHONING COUNTY Officials to stump for tax
Hearings on renewing the sales tax generated little interest.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Since the public didn't come to them, Mahoning County commissioners say they'll go to the public this fall and stump for renewal of a 0.5-percent county sales tax.
"I think it is key for us to do that if we want to get that tax passed," said Commissioner David Ludt.
The tax, which brings in about $12 million a year for general operating expenses, expires at the end of this year. A renewal attempt in May was defeated. Commissioners intend to put the measure back on the ballot in November.
They are required by state law to first have two public hearings. The first was last week, and no one showed up to speak either for or against the tax.
There was a room full of people at the second hearing Thursday, but most were either county employees or people who do work for the county. Only a handful of people spoke, with three in favor of the tax and one against it.
Now that the mandatory hearings are out of the way, Commissioner Ed Reese said the board will start gearing up to hit communities all over the county in hopes of promoting the tax.
Working on presentation
Ludt said they are putting together a presentation to show how sales tax revenue has been used to benefit various townships and communities through a community development fund.
When commissioners stumped for passage of the tax five years ago, they pledged to set aside 25 percent of its revenue for economic development projects and funding of discretionary agencies, like 4-H.
The tax accounts for about 25 percent of the county's operating budget. Commissioners have said they'll make massive budget cuts if the renewal is defeated in November, including layoffs of county employees.
Most of those would be deputy sheriffs because the sheriff's department and juvenile court consume most of the general fund money, he said.
Commissioners don't intend to lay off workers or close the county jail before the election.
"We don't want people to think we're trying to threaten them into voting for the tax," he said.
But if the tax fails, cuts will be made soon afterward, commissioners added.
bjackson@vindy.com