TRUMBULL COUNTY Special election sought for city's income tax

The tax failed in March by 161 votes.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The half-percent income tax for the city's safety forces will be on an August special-election ballot if legislation to be introduced at next week's council meeting passes.
A resolution to place the 0.5 percent income tax for the police and fire departments on the Aug. 3 special election is on council's Wednesday meeting agenda. The tax, initially passed in 2001, expires at year's end.
Voters in March rejected its renewal for another three years by 161 votes.
The latest legislation would enact the tax from Jan. 1, 2005, through Dec. 31, 2007.
Councilmen Robert Holmes, D-4th, John Homlitas, D-3rd, and Felipe M. Romain Jr., D-at large, are the resolution's sponsors. To be on the ballot for the special election, information must be to the Trumbull County Board of Elections by May 20.
Where revenue goes
The tax generates about $5 million annually for the police and fire departments.
"There have been a lot of positive changes in the last four months, and I think we'll continue to see positive changes between now and August," said Homlitas, vice chairman of council's finance committee, adding that he was referring to the atmosphere cultivated by the administration of Mayor Michael O'Brien.
A special election usually costs an entity between $500 and $550 per precinct, said Norma Williams, director of the county board of elections. There are 58 precincts in the city, putting the cost between $29,000 and $31,900.
"The budgetary process for 2005 starts in June and July, and it's much better to get an idea of the money coming in at the earliest possible date," Homlitas said.
Romain also cited the time frame for formulating the budget.
"We're going to know in August whether we have this big void or we don't," he said. "The necessity is there, obviously."
Although the city's coffers can handle the roughly $30,000 hit to pay for the special election now, the loss of $5 million annually would put it in dire straits, he said.
"You've got to look at the big picture," Romain said.
Watching police
Councilman James A. "Doc" Pugh, D-6th, wants to see strides toward improvement in the police department before he'll support the tax.
"They need to show that the unjust things that have been going on in the police department with the profiling, the brutality and the strip-searches have been addressed," Pugh said.
The department has been under fire in recent months because of allegations of police misconduct.
"Until they've addressed those things, I can't support it," Pugh said, saying he was following the wishes of his constituents.
Legislation he sponsored and council tabled before the March election would have split the tax into separate issues, one for police and one for the fire department. Pugh said he could move to remove that measure from the table.