WEATHERSFIELD TOWNSHIP Trustees await report on tax loss

Even if the township loses money, it won't go into a deficit, one trustee said.
MINERAL RIDGE -- Weathersfield Township trustees are waiting for the Trumbull County auditor to tell them if the township will lose industrial tax revenue.
The school district is projecting a loss of $621,840 in personal property tax from RMI and other township industries, which has forced $300,000 in cuts this year and next and a levy on the May ballot.
More cuts are being planned as the school district anticipates a $1.2 million deficit next year. The district is also applying for a one-time, $1.8 million grant through the Ohio Department of Education for catastrophic emergencies.
Resident Fred McCandless asked trustees Wednesday if the township may face a $142,000 shortfall this year because of the industrial tax losses.
Trustee Fred Bobovnyk and township administrator David Pugh said they've asked the county auditor that question and are awaiting a response.
Most affected
Bobovnyk pointed out that if the township does wind up losing tax money, the projected $142,000 represents only 5 percent of the total budget, and although all areas of service would feel the pinch, police and fire would be squeezed the most.
Pugh said the township has decided to back off on plans to place a fire levy before voters to allow the school district to work on getting a levy passed in May.
Bobovnyk noted the fire department has not had a levy in 22 years, "but we don't want to interfere with what their plans are next year."
He said even if the township does wind up losing $142,000, "we aren't going to go into a deficit."
He said the federal government is allowing industrial customers to buy Russian titanium, which hurts RMI and is the reason for the reduction in tax revenue from the local titanium supplier.
Trustees also announced they are asking the Trumbull County Engineer's Office to do a traffic survey on Morris Lane to determine a safe speed. The limit is 35 mph.