Boardman trustees eyeing Nov. levy

By DENISE DICK

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

BOARDMAN — Trustee Larry Moliterno recommended the township seek a levy on the November general election ballot.

The amount and type of levy remain to be ironed out. At a trustees meeting Wednesday, Moliterno said he wanted to gather input from department heads, employees and members of the public before presenting a definite plan likely at the July 23 meeting.

“That’s a good starting point,” said Robyn Gallitto, trustees chairwoman.

To be placed on the November ballot, the issue requires two readings before the Aug. 21 filing deadline for the fall election.

Last November, a 4.1-mill general operating levy that would have generated $4 million annually for five years failed at the voting booth. Last February, trustees laid off 30 full-time and 12 part-time employees to bridge the budget gap. A handful of those laid-off employees have been called back as retirements and other resignations occurred.

Harry Wolfe, president of the firefighters union, urged the board to place a safety forces levy on the ballot. He referred to two large fires in the township within the last few weeks that he says placed firefighters in danger because of lower staffing.

Nine full-time and all nine of the department’s part-time firefighters were among those laid off.

Jason Loree, township administrator, gave a presentation to trustees outlining the township’s finances so far this year compared to previous years. At midyear, the township has spent about 54 percent of its 2008 appropriations, he said.

That’s on target with previous years: 49 percent at mid-year 2007 and 54 percent at mid-year for both 2006 and 2005, Loree said.

Projections for 2009 appropriations call for $15.7 million. The township employs 128 employees compared to about 165 last year. Besides the layoffs, the township has left some positions vacant when workers have resigned or retired.

Staff reductions since 2006 include 12 police officers, 11 firefighters, 10 road department workers and 12 other employees.

To increase revenue, the township has three short-term options: propose a new property tax levy, seek state support, or research a Joint Economic Development District on undeveloped land within the township, Loree said.

Seeking state support refers to pursuing changes in state law to enable townships to seek sales or income tax, Loree said. Youngstown earlier this year proposed a JEDD with the township to impose an income tax on those working in some areas of the township. The revenue would be shared between the city and township.

Loree acknowledged that proposal is unpopular but said it’s something that could be researched further.