Columbiana sales tax

Columbiana County is scraping by -- in rather heroic fashion for a county that lost one third of its sales tax income in the last year and has made enough cuts to keep it out of fiscal watch or fiscal emergency.
County commissioners credit other officeholders and employees with holding the line and making possible whatever limited financial success the county has had. Offices are operating with fewer people and on shorter hours, but they are operating. The number of deputies have been reduced, but the Sheriff's Department manages to keep a couple of cruisers on the road, especially after dark.
But clearly, unless county voters restore the 0.5 percent sales tax that expired last August, fiscal watch, or even fiscal emergency is just around the corner. If county residents want to maintain local control over operations, rather than see a state oversight commission take control, they should approve the 0.5 percent sales tax that will be on the May 2 ballot. Even if the tax is approved, state law will keep it from being collected until October, and the county won't begin receiving income until January.
Pennies add up
Sean Logan, chairman of the board of commissioners, does not minimize the pain of taxes that residents feel, especially in these economic times, but he says residents may not realize how little the 0.5 percent tax costs. He notes that on a recent trip to the grocery store, his bill was $109.20. There was $1.55 in sales tax on that bill, but the lion's share went to the state. The county got less than a quarter. If the additional half-percent goes back into effect, the county would pick up about another dime.
Of course, pennies add up. And on large purchases, the tax becomes noticeable. But for county operations, the cummulative income is vital. When the county had a 1.5 percent tax, it produced more than 60 percent of the general fund budget. About a quarter of the tax is paid by out-of-county residents who make purchases in the county. r at
The Vindicator urges voters in Columbiana County to support the county's efforts to provide necessary services within a reasonable budget by voting in favor of the sales tax.