COLUMBIANA COUNTY Commissioners at loss to explain tax defeat

Voters have considered the tax 16 times since 1977.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners say they don't know why the sales tax was defeated again or what to do about it.
And as a little salt in their wound, the commissioners began budget hearings Wednesday with county officials, who often want more money to cover their increasing costs.
Voters on Tuesday rejected the commissioners' bid for a 1-percent continuous sales tax. The present five-year tax raises about $7.6 million a year, which is roughly 43 percent of the county's general fund. It continues through 2005.
Voters have considered the tax 16 times since 1977 but approved it only three times. Voters approved the present tax in 2000.
The commissioners have said they have little choice to go back to the voters, but they don't know what they'll do, or when.
"We haven't had time to sit down and discuss it," said Jim Hoppel, the chairman of the commissioners.
Hoppel pointed out that each commissioner also has his preferences about the tax. For example, Commissioner Sean Logan voted to enact a 0.5-percent tax in 2002, while Hoppel voted against it.
That 0.5-percent expires in September, which will complicate the commissioners' bid to provide funding. That money also goes for general operating costs.
"The pressure is on us at the budget hearings," Logan said.
Hoppel pointed out the pressure to keep costs down is on both the commissioners and other officeholders.
"It's a shared burden," Hoppel said.
Continuous tax
The commissioners sought a continuous sales tax to get a secure financial base. Hoppel said he did not think the bid for the continuous tax helped to defeat the issue.
Commissioner Gary Williams said he believed the tax was defeated because there were many proposed tax increases on the ballot.
The commissioners and supporters put out a fact sheet about how the tax is used. The commissioners said they aren't sure if they should have promoted the tax differently or will promote it differently in the next bid.
Logan said: "The roller coaster continues."
wilkinson@vindy.com