AUSTINTOWN Trustees consider a new ballot issue for police tax levy

The levy won't be on the ballot without the support of Trustee-elect Lisa Oles.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
AUSTINTOWN -- Township trustees are once again considering placing a 2.5-mill levy for police on the ballot.
The levy failed by about 900 votes in November. On Monday, trustees voted to ask the Mahoning County auditor how much money would be collected through the levy if it is approved by voters in March.
That's the first step trustees must take under state law to put a levy on the ballot. The second and final step calls for trustees to pass a resolution declaring that there is a need to place the levy on the ballot.
Trustees would have to have a special meeting by Dec. 18 to approve that resolution for the levy to be on the March ballot. About 80 people packed into township hall for Monday's meeting.
Facing a deficit
If the levy had been approved in November, it would have allowed the township to collect an additional $1.4 million a year for township police. Trustees have said the levy is needed because the township is facing a deficit, and they've made several budget cuts and laid off two police officers and seven part-time firefighters to save money this year.
Trustee David Ditzler said he wasn't sure if voters would be willing to approve the levy the second time. He noted, however, that "if you don't give them an opportunity, you'll never know."
Ditzler and Trustee Bo Pritchard both stressed that they don't want the levy to appear on the ballot unless it has the support of Trustee-elect Lisa Oles, who takes office in January. Pritchard said he wouldn't vote in favor of placing the levy on the ballot without the support of Oles.
Ditzler said he may vote for placing the levy on the ballot this month, and then vote to take it off in January if it is not supported by Oles.
At least two trustees would need to vote in favor for the issue to get on the ballot. Pritchard and Ditzler said they think all three trustees should support the levy if it is going to appear on the ballot.
Gathering information
Oles said she won't make up her mind about the levy until after she meets with county Auditor George Tablack, township Clerk Michael Kurish and township Police Chief Gordon Ellis to discuss the township's budget. Township officials have said they have $11 million to spend this year; Oles has asked why the township's estimate of revenue filed with the county auditor showed the township had $14.7 million to spend.
"I just want an accurate number," Oles said. "There's no way I'm going to go into this blindly."
Kurish has said the $14.7 million estimate given to the county auditor includes about $3.7 million in transfers between township funds. That money isn't revenue the township can spend; it's cash taken from one fund and put into another fund.
"It's obvious that [Tablack] doesn't have a handle on what the budget is for the community," Ditzler said.
Estimated revenue
Tablack, who did not attend Monday's meeting, noted that the $14.7 million doesn't reflect the township's budget, but its estimated revenue for the year. The township supplies information to the auditor to help create the revenue estimate.
The auditor's office was not told about the $3.7 million in transfers.
Tablack said he may schedule a meeting with Ditzler and the state auditor's office to explain why the county should be told about the transfers.
To meet or not?
Oles said Kurish hasn't been willing to meet with her to discuss the revenue dispute. Kurish, however, said he was willing to meet with Oles.
"It would be foolish of me to say no," he said.
On Monday, Trustee Rich Edwards also criticized Tablack for not telling the township about a $77,534 tax rebate it received in July. Tablack, however, said the county prosecutor's office sent a letter to the township explaining the rebate.
He added that he believes the comments of Edwards and Ditzler demonstrate a lack of communication among township officials.
hill@vindy.com