COLUMBIANA COUNTY Tax-repeal measure is pulled off table

The commissioner who had proposed scrapping a tax increase says he wasn't motivated by disappointment over his election defeat.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- A measure to repeal the 0.5-percent sales tax increase imposed over the summer was on the agenda at the Columbiana County commissioners meeting this morning.
But, at the last minute, Commissioner Dave Cranmer, who had been proposing the repeal after his Nov. 5 election defeat, tore up what appeared to be the proposed resolution.
Cranmer briefly defended his role in imposing the tax and said he still believed it is needed.
Reading from a prepared statement, Cranmer said his proposal to repeal the increase was not sour grapes, as some critics had charged, "but a taste of fine wine that has brought out the truth."
Afterward, commissioners went on with their meeting with the other two commissioners Jim Hoppel and Sean Logan, offering no comment on Cranmer's actions.
For the measure to pass, a motion would have to have been made and seconded to bring it to a vote of the three commissioners. Then at least two of the three commissioners would have to vote for the repeal for it to be approved.
Cranmer and fellow Democrat Logan voted in June to impose the 0.5-percent sales tax increase, saying the county must have the $3 million annually the tax would raise to save the county from going into fiscal emergency.
Hoppel, a Republican, voted against imposing the tax. He said the revenue is needed, but that he is opposed to imposing taxes and prefers that such issues be submitted to voters.
Cranmer, who term expires at year's end, repeatedly defended his role in imposing the tax during his re-election campaign.
Criticism
His opponent, county Recorder Gary Williams, said the tax increase was needed, but criticized its imposition. Like Hoppel, Williams said he believes taxes should be voted upon.
After losing his re-election bid to Williams, Cranmer immediately blamed the imposed tax for his loss and said he would seek its repeal.
On election night, Cranmer said that if Williams wanted people to vote on tax increases, he would give him a chance to seek such a vote by stripping away the 0.5-percent increase.
Williams responded by saying he does not favor repealing the increase because it's already in place and doing so would harm the county financially.
He has also knocked Cranmer's repeal proposal, saying his defeated foe is just engaging in sour-grapes politics.
"It's not sour grapes," Cranmer said Tuesday. But he refused to elaborate.
Cranmer said he's received calls from constituents in the last week, urging him to follow through with the repeal.
Williams said he's not sure what to expect. "I'm just waiting like everybody else," he said Tuesday.
"I feel bad that it has come to this," county Auditor Nancy Milliken said of the repeal measure.
"It will have an impact," county Clerk of Courts Anthony Dattilio said of living without the 0.5-percent increase.
Sheriff Dave Smith refused to comment on the issue.