Officials alter approach after sales tax defeats

The sales tax is being discussed at a series of town hall meetings.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Some Columbiana County officials are offering new approaches to voters in an attempt to pass tax issues narrowly defeated in past elections.
Those same voters also will be asked to approve new tax levies in the May 2 primary election.
County commissioners hope voters will approve the 0.5 percent sales and use tax that voters rejected last November. The tax should raise $4 million a year for five years.
What's new this year is that the commissioners and other county officials are having a series of town hall meetings throughout the county to discuss the need for the tax. Without it, the county faces about a $1.7 million deficit this year.
The Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board is again seeking a 0.3-mill replacement levy that will bring in $447,000 a year for 10 years. It was defeated last year by a small margin.
Patricia Baumgarner, the board's executive director, said that voters will see new, clearer language on the ballot that better explains how the money will be spent. The board also is advertising on the county transit system rather than billboards, will have a mass mailing to voters who cast ballots in May 2005, and is having people send cards to friends urging their support.
Salem levies
In Salem, the school district is asking again for $1.3 million a year in the form of a 4.3-mill, five-year levy. Since voters rejected the issue last fall, the board has accepted the retirement of two veteran principals and eight veteran teachers and prepared a list of teachers who face layoffs.
The board also cut busing to state minimums and will close two buildings. The district is in a state-ordered fiscal watch that requires the district to develop a recovery plan.
Voters also will get to vote on new tax issues.
Salem council is asking voters to adopt a utility aggregate program to negotiate rates for utility customers. If approved, people should see a reduction in their bills. Property owners can drop out of the program even if it is approved. Columbiana has had the program for many years.
Other areas
Voters in the Leetonia school district are being asked to approve a 1.59-mill, 25-year bond issue to raise $1.4 million a year to build a new Leetonia Community Public Library. The library, by law, has the same boundaries as the school district. Voters should see plans before the election for the new facility that is to be located at the site of the former high school.
Jerry Wolford, chairman of the Perry Township trustees, said a request for a 1-mill, five-year replacement levy for police will raise $79,745 annually. The slight increase will continue patrols by helping to pay for the higher cost of gasoline.
New Waterford residents are being asked to renew a 5-mill, five-year levy for current expenses that brings in $34,745 annually.
Three subdivisions are asking for more money to help maintain their roads.
Butler Township is asking for a 3.5-mill, five-year replacement levy for road and bridge work. It would bring in $84,269 a year.
Wayne Township and Yellow Creek Townships are asking for new road levies. Wayne wants 1 mill for five years that would raise $12,137 annually. Yellow Creek wants a 1-mill, five-year levy that would raise $28,547 a year.
wilkinson@vindy.com
Property owners can determine the change in their taxes by the proposed property issues by going to the county auditor's Web site at www.columbianacntyauditor.org/. They can type in their name or parcel number, click on "levy info" and then hit "click here for your levy information."