Officials consider seeking help to pass sales tax

The commissioners didn't discuss putting the issue on the November ballot.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- After the latest defeat of a sales tax, Columbiana County commissioners say it's time to try something different.
A 0.5 percent sales tax that brings in about 22 percent of county revenue was defeated Tuesday. Election results show the tax was defeated by 52 percent of the voters, a much lower margin of defeat than in the past.
Commissioners collect a 1 percent sales tax. They say the county can collect only a total 1.5 percent sales tax.
Commissioners tried to promote the issue based on pride in good, frugal government. But a series of about 20 meetings throughout the county, many at chambers of commerce, had poor attendance and some misconceptions.
Commissioner Gary Williams said one man incorrectly thought that the county got all sales taxes. Another person was still angry over a 12-year-old county financial scandal.
Commissioner Jim Hoppel said, "Evidently, we didn't do a good enough job."
Seeking help
Commissioners said it may be time to bring in more people.
Salem voters rejected a school levy last fall that received no endorsements. The levy passed this year after the city's chamber of commerce, council and ministerial association supported it.
Williams said it may be time to form a citizens' advisory group to help pass the tax.
"It's very difficult for three individuals to get the word out," he said.
Hoppel said, "If we can get information out, we can get it passed."
Commissioners said they weren't ready to talk about putting the tax on the November ballot.
The county expects to have more than $1 million in debt by the end of the year. The commissioners said that for every period the tax is off, it takes the county twice as long to recover once the tax is passed.
This year, they have postponed paying some bills, including a multicounty juvenile system. The commissioners said if they are forced to make cuts in major departments, county revenue could drop even more.
wilkinson@vindy.com