Mahoning officials, residents discuss sales tax, flooding

CANFIELD — The good news: Most residents and officials in Mahoning County’s townships and rural areas support the half-percent sales tax.

The bad news: Those same residents and officials say the tax will fail, however, unless the commissioners can show them how the tax renewal will benefit them.

The Mahoning Conty Township Association sponsored a town hall meeting tonight at McMahon Hall in Mill Creek MetroParks Farm, and the chief topic was the sales tax, which commissioners want to make permanent. The tax is up for renewal this year, and brings in $14.5 million a year.

Bob Kale of Berlin Center said he’s tired of hearing about how the tax renewal can help open up the Mahoning County jail. Kale said he wants to know what benefits the rural areas will achieve if the tax is renewed.

Those attending the session also discussed flooding and drainage problems and what could be done to alleviate them.

For the complete story, see Friday's Vindicator and Vindy.com.