TRUMBULL COUNTY Officials push tax; a resident pans it

Commissioners are expected to put the sales tax increase on the fall ballot.
By STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- If voters turn down a Trumbull County sales tax increase, consequences to the public will be dire, officials warned during the final public hearing on the measure.
But one of the handful of citizens at the meeting spoke against the tax increase, saying she could not afford to pay more.
"If you pass the tax, it will hurt," said Joan Pierson of Warren, who said she is reeling from paying more state taxes from her family's stagnant income. "I don't know where I will cut."
Next week, county commissioners are expected to approve putting a 0.5 percent sales tax increase on the November ballot.
If approved, the measure would extend the sales tax increase commissioners imposed on their own in April. Commissioners won't say if they intend to ask voters to impose the tax permanently or for a fixed period.
With the increase, Trumbull County would collect a total of 1 percent sales tax.
Officials said there will be further cutbacks in programs to provide the elderly with food, prescriptions and transportation if the tax is not passed. Chief Deputy Sherriff Ernie Cook said the minimum security jail, for misdemeanor offenders, would be closed if the tax doesn't pass.
"If we don't get the tax on there, we will have further reduction of the services provided by the court," said Probate Judge Thomas Swift.
Employee cuts
Two of his workers are among the more then 80 still on furlough from the county.
It would be necessary to lay off an additional 20 to 50 workers a year if the tax doesn't pass, said Thomas Hannon, a member of a committee formed by county commissioners to study the issue.
Commissioner Michael O'Brien said the county does more with less money than other counties the same size. Commissioner Joseph Angelo said the sales tax is the fairest tax possible.
"I don't think we have any more fat that we can cut," said Commissioner James G. Tsagaris. "I think we have cut enough."
Officials say they don't know how many, or how quickly, workers would be recalled if the tax passes.
siff@vindy.com