Hoppel concedes loss over 0.5% sales tax

LISBON -- Columbiana County voters appear to be rejecting the Columbiana County 0.5 percent sales tax.
With only partial results in, the tax was going down to defeat with 37 percent in favor and 62 percent against.
Jim Hoppel, chairman of county commissioners, conceded defeat on the issue.
Hoppel said he would not favor enacting the tax without voter approval. He was not sure why the tax was defeated, saying he and the other two commissioners had gone out and promoted its passage.
Hoppel pointed out that county department heads' budget requests for next year total $6 million and the tax, if collected, would bring in $4 million for a full year. If approved Tuesday, the tax would have been collected for only part of the year, raising about $2 million.
In other races, a levy for the Robert Bycroft School and Sheltered Workshop appeared to be passing. However, the vote on a mental health replacement levy was too close to call.
Salem's bid for a new park levy appeared to be passing, while a park levy in East Palestine appeared headed to defeat.
Partial results for East Palestine's new levy for electricity costs were not available.