Backers plan Mahoning Co. sales tax rally

The idea is to show tax support from the business and labor communities.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- With less than a week before the general election, backers of a 0.5 percent Mahoning County sales tax are making a last push for its passage.
Business and labor leaders were to gather today at Mr. Anthony's in Boardman to pledge their own support for the tax and try to drum up support from voters.
Greg Sherlock, vice president of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, said more than 100 invitations were sent to elected and appointed officials from all over the county, including mayors and township trustees.
"We expect a pretty decent turnout and a good show of support for the tax," Sherlock said.
Leading supporter
The chamber is leading the campaign for renewal of the tax, which has been on the books since 1999 and is set to expire Dec. 31. The tax brings in about $13 million a year, which accounts for about 26 percent of the county's general fund revenue.
Slated to speak during the rally are Tom Humphries, chamber president and chief executive officer; Larry Fauver, president of the local AFL-CIO; and county Auditor George Tablack.
Tablack has said the county faces financial ruin without the tax revenue.
Sherlock said the goal is to let voters know that the tax is supported by both business and labor leaders, as well as by local government officials.
Continuing measure
Commissioners are asking voters to renew the tax as a continuing measure instead of for five years, as has been done in the past. A five-year renewal was defeated in March.
Sherlock said the chamber supports a continuing tax because it would lend stability to the county's financial future.
"The county has been held hostage by the on-again, off-again dynamics of this issue, and enough is enough," a chamber press release says. "Let's put this in place as a continuous funding source so the business and labor community can move forward once and for all."
Other issues
The chamber's statement says a stable funding source would allow local officials to address other issues, such as rebuilding downtown areas, job creation and retention, and economic development.
Even if the tax passes, a new Ohio law will keep the county from collecting revenue for the first quarter of 2005, a loss of about $3.25 million.
The county has another 0.5 percent sales tax that brings in the same amount of revenue and is set to expire in December 2007.
bjackson@vindy.com