COLUMBIANA COUNTY Commissioner acts to repeal tax boost

The commissioner-elect accused his foe of trying to 'get even.'
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- A day after being defeated in the general election, Columbiana Commissioner Dave Cranmer is moving to dismantle an imposed sales tax increase that he has passionately championed.
Cranmer refused Wednesday to discuss his proposal, made at the commissioners' weekly meeting.
He said he is asking the prosecutor's office to draft a resolution repealing the 0.5 percent increase that he and fellow commissioner Sean Logan imposed over the summer.
Emphatically for it earlier
Earlier this year, Cranmer argued emphatically for the increase, saying the nearly $3 million annually it's expected to earn is crucial to prevent the county from spiraling into fiscal emergency.
After being knocked for imposing the measure, Cranmer said he was doing his job.
On Wednesday, he said the repeal resolution he's seeking would wipe the increase from the books Dec. 31. The measure could be brought before commissioners as early as next week.
County Recorder Gary Williams, who beat Cranmer Tuesday, accused his defeated opponent of engaging in sour-grapes politics that imperils the county's fiscal health.
"I would have thought more of him," Williams said. "I guess this is his way of getting even."
Election downfall
Cranmer said Tuesday after learning of his defeat that he believed Williams' criticism of him for imposing the sales tax cost him the election.
Williams has said the 0.5 percent increase is needed, but he faulted Cranmer for imposing it. Voters should decide tax increases, Williams said.
Now that the sales tax is in place, Williams said he will not support repealing it because the county needs the money the increase produces.
If Cranmer's repeal effort succeeds, Williams said, he would favor asking voters to approve restoring it during the May primary.
Cranmer's history regarding sales tax imposition is one of reverses.
"He can't make up his mind," Williams said.
Previous tax proposal
In March 2000, Cranmer stated he intended to vote with then-commissioner Cathie DeFazio to impose a 1 percent sales tax.
Days later, Cranmer backed off, saying he had reconsidered.
In December 2001, Cranmer and Commissioner Sean Logan voted to impose a 0.5 percent sales tax increase.
In January, Cranmer and Logan rescinded the imposed increase as a referendum effort to scrap the imposed tax boost gathered momentum.
Rejected by voters
In June, after voters rejected a 0.5 percent sales tax increase measure, Cranmer and Logan voted to impose it.
Commissioner Jim Hoppel, who favors the 0.5 percent increase, has steadfastly been against imposing it, saying it's a matter for voters to decide.
Hoppel declined to comment Wednesday about how he'll deal with Cranmer's repeal effort.
"We'll see what happens," is all Logan would say.