TAX FACTS | Columbiana County

The first of two public hearings on a proposed 0.5-percent sales tax Wednesday drew about a dozen people. The second will be 10:30 a.m. next Wednesday at the courthouse. County commissioners said they can place the tax request, which failed May 2, on the November ballot, or vote to impose the tax. Commissioners offered the following information in response to questions.
Q. Why do commissioners need another 0.5-percent sales tax when 6.5 percent is already being collected?
A. Of the 6.5-percent sales tax collected in the county, only 1 percent goes to county government. The other 5.5 percent goes to the state. The 0.5-percent tax would be for five years and be in addition to the 1-percent county sales tax voters renewed in May 2005. It would generate about $4 million per year. The 1-percent sales tax generates about $8 million of the county's $18 million budget.
Q. Commissioners said if people voted for the 1-percent sales tax, they would not increase property taxes, but property taxes increased. Why should voters approve the additional tax when commissioners broke their promise?
A. Commissioners said they did not raise property taxes. The 2 mills commissioners took off the books when voters approved the sales tax is still not in effect. Voters saw property tax increases because of changes in property values.
Q. Won't commissioners just put the property tax back on anyway?
A. Commissioner Gary Williams favors a property tax over a sales tax. Commissioners Sean Logan and Jim Hoppel said they promised not to put the property tax back on voters, and favor the sales tax.
Q. If the money is so desperately needed, why don't commissioners just impose it?
A. Logan said he plans to present a motion to impose the sales tax. Hoppel said he hasn't changed his philosophy in 10 years, and still believes people should vote on the tax. He said he won't vote to impose the tax. Even if commissioners vote to impose the tax, voters can sign petitions for a referendum to stop the tax collection and put the tax on the ballot.
Q. Why can't commissioners reduce salary and benefits and use some of the savings to promote the sales tax?
A. Commissioner Sean Logan said public money cannot be used to promote a tax.
Q. How can there be money carried over into 2007 with bills from 2006 left unpaid?
A. Commissioner Jim Hoppel explained there has to be money available to get through the first few weeks of a new year. Logan said commissioners are trying to protect about $336,000 to carry over into 2007.
Source: Columbiana County commissioners