Commissioners to hire state help to persuade voters to back tax levy
Commissioners will present the information to voters on the campaign trail.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County commissioners want an independent voice to carry the message of the county's financial condition to voters this fall.
That's why they're hiring the state auditor's office to prepare a financial forecast for 2005, based on the anticipated loss of revenue from a 0.5-percent county sales tax.
"[Voters] don't believe us. They don't trust us," Commissioner David Ludt said. "I think it's more credible coming from the state auditor."
Commissioners were expected to vote on contracting with the state auditor during their meeting today.
The county has two 0.5-percent sales taxes on the books, one of which expires at the end of this year. The other was renewed for five years in 2002. Each tax accounts for about one-fourth of the county's annual general fund revenue.
Commissioners put the expiring tax on the ballot in March for a five-year renewal, but voters rejected it. Commissioners have said the issue will be back on the ballot in November.
Looking ahead
If the renewal fails again, between $12 million and $13 million a year will be drained from the county's general fund. Ludt said that would devastate the county's budget, forcing massive layoffs and other service cutbacks.
"We would probably go into default because we wouldn't be able to pay our bonds," Ludt said. "It would be a terrible situation."
Commissioners already have abolished the county council on aging as a cost-cutting measure this year, and last year laid off more than 30 employees, many of whom have not been recalled. Other county general fund departments also laid off workers last year and this year because of budget constraints brought on by decreasing revenues.
Ludt said commissioners have tried to get the word out to voters about the impact of losing the tax revenue, but they have not been successful.
He said it appears self-serving to have commissioners and county employees carry the message to voters since they have an interest in its passage.
Ludt said commissioners are hoping that a financial forecast prepared by the state auditor's office will carry more weight with voters and persuade them to vote in favor of the tax in the fall.
Commissioners will set aside $25,000 to pay for the financial forecast, but Ludt said he hopes it will not cost that much. He said it should be completed in about two months, just in time for commissioners to use it while they campaign for the tax in November.
bjackson@vindy.com