Officials toss around ideas about sales tax

A political expert says sales taxes are an access point for voter frustration.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- The Columbiana County commissioners are again dealing with the maddening topic of how to pass a sales tax.
Commissioners late last week were leaning toward the idea of forming a committee, possibly with courthouse outsiders, to get the job done.
The commissioners had campaigned earlier this year with the message that officeholders and the public should be proud of the county's lean operations.
Many of the meetings drew only a few people, but in a close vote, voters said no.
Commissioner Chairman Sean Logan said that if 449 of those votes had gone the county's way in the May primary, the issue would have passed by one vote.
Problem not unique
Dr. William Binning, chairman of the political science department at Youngstown State University and former Mahoning County Republican Party Chairman, said, "The problem is not unique to Columbiana County."
Trumbull and Mahoning counties have also struggled with passage of a sales tax.
Columbiana County Commissioner Gary Williams said that after the recent defeat, a county official complained about pre-election projects that were in the news and might have turned off voters.
But such double-guessing doesn't work, Binning said.
"The sales tax is the access point of voter frustration," he said.
Frustration
There's a lot of frustration, he added, but it may have little to do with county government. People vote against the tax because they can. Unlike federal and state taxes, voters can say no to sales taxes. Binning added that the legislature may have to change the law if counties are to have stable funding.
While Columbiana County tried to sell the tax on the notion of good government, Binning said Mahoning County is trying to use fear of crime as a way to sell a sales tax.
Mahoning County has a 1 percent sales tax and may try for an additional 0.25 percent tax for criminal justice services.
Columbiana has a 1 percent sales tax and is trying to get a 0.5 percent tax.
Trumbull County commissioners last year voted to put on two 0.25 percent sales taxes that bring its total to 1 percent. A drop in the state sales tax meant the total sales tax didn't change, but opponents still tried to get the issues on the ballot.
Hard times
Binning dismisses the idea of sales taxes going down due to hard times, because there are constant economic slumps.
He also cautioned officials not to think they've figured out the voter. Those who turn out for primaries tend to be a little more politically aware and more generous to taxes. The November ballot draws in more voters, and their concerns often change.
wilkinson@vindy.com