Youngstown council will discuss proposed economic development plan today

YOUNGSTOWN — City council will meet at 5 p.m. today to discuss the proposed economic development plan by Youngstown to use its water system to generate money for the city, Austintown and Boardman.

The meeting is to be held in council’s caucus room on the 6th floor of city hall, 26 S. Phelps St. It is the first time city officials will discuss the plan’s details in public.

Besides council members, members of the city administration will attend the meeting.

The plan calls for workers at every business in the two townships who get Youngstown water to be assessed a 2-percent income tax. The townships could also add their own 0.25-percent income tax on those same residents.

In return, the city would reduce the water surcharge in those two townships from 40 percent to 20 percent.

Also, the city would reduce its income tax on those who work in Youngstown — including Austintown and Boardman residents — from 2.75 percent to 2.25 percent.

Boardman and Austintown trustees criticize the plan saying it amounts to Youngstown receiving income tax money from more of the township residents while giving those two communities little in return.