Loree recommends levy for Boardman

By Denise Dick

The document will be posted on Boardman’s Web site.

BOARDMAN — The township’s administrator recommends a service levy be placed on the ballot as a step to stabilize the budget.

Jason Loree distributed a document to trustees Tuesday called “Strategic Options for Boardman Township’s Financial Future,” that includes the recommendation for a 2.2-mill levy. Although the specific amount the levy would generate must be calculated by the Mahoning County Auditor’s Office, he estimated it would bring in about $2 million annually.

Of that, the majority, or 1.1 mills, would be for the police department; 0.8 mills for the fire department and 0.3 mills for the road department.

“This would stabilize the township services, stabilize the budget and allow us to move forward,” Loree said.

The township has been struggling with dwindling revenues and earlier this year laid off 30 full-time and 12 part-time employees.

Other items included in Loree’s report listed in order of feasibility are exploration of a Joint Economic Development District to generate and share tax revenue with a nearby municipality, regionalization, incorporation, income and sales tax and a municipal merger.

The document will be posted on the township’s Web site at www.boardmantwp.com. Trustee Larry Moliterno said the public is encouraged to provide input.

“This is the first time the board has seen this much information gathered and compiled together ever,” said Robyn Gallitto, trustees chairwoman.

Once the board, with public input, has whittled the information contained down to the options it wants to pursue, it will provide a road map for the township’s future, she said.

The next step, Loree said, is for trustees to decide what options they want to pursue. If they want to move forward with more than one option, they need to prioritize, he said.

If trustees want to place a levy on the August special election ballot, they must pass two resolutions and have that information to the county elections board by May 22.

Gallitto said the board will bring recommendations and opinions to next week’s regular trustees’ meeting.

While Youngstown is asking both Boardman and Austintown to establish a JEDD to share income tax in exchange for reduced water rates, Loree said the township can investigate agreements with communities other than Youngstown.

The township could approach Canfield, Campbell, Poland or Struthers, the administrator said. It’s unknown, however, how long negotiations with any community would take, he added.

Under regionalization, Loree said there are discussions occurring which should provide the analysis to begin a regionalization effort, “but there is no guarantee that the township would realize the amount of revenue dollars needed to balance its budget,” the report said.

Incorporation would require public approval and then creation of a charter commission to develop a charter, which also would require voter approval.

Several years ago, the township paid for an incorporation study but chose not to pursue the idea. Last year, Kent State University submitted a proposal to conduct an incorporation study for the township for $19,410.

A study would include estimated costs associated with incorporation.

Incorporation is a more long-term option for the township, Loree said.

Establishment of an income or sales tax in the township would require action from the state Legislature.

“I’ve seen comments from members of the Legislature that the support is not there in the Legislature to do that,” Loree said. That option also is a long-term solution.

A municipal merger, or joining with a municipality, would be a more realistic option if the township was suffering from a large and sudden drop in property tax, Loree’s report said.

“In the event the township does not receive additional funding to balance its budget, further reductions in township services will have to take place immediately after” an unsuccessful levy attempt in either August or November, the report says. “This is an absolute imperative in order for the township to realize the cost savings for fiscal year 2009.”