Lack of concern over sales tax has Columbiana Co. officials baffled

No one has complained about renewing the county’s 1-percent sales tax.

By D.a. Wilkinson

LISBON — The Columbiana County commissioners aren’t sure what the lack of opposition over a sales tax means.

The commissioners on Wednesday had the second of two required public hearings on plans to renew a 1-percent sales tax that brings in about $8 million a year for operations.

That’s 44 percent of the county’s general fund, which runs most of the offices. (The county has another, 0.5 percent sales tax that brings in about $4 million annually for general operations.)

“I don’t have any idea [why there’s been no opposition],” said Commissioner Jim Hoppel.

Penny Traina, president of the commissioners, said that she was not sure what the lack of opposition may mean.

In past years, people who went to hearings on the sales tax indicated they did not favor the tax and voted against it.

No voters showed up to support or oppose the sales tax at the first hearing last week. Three people showed up for the second and last hearing Wednesday.

Millie Danch of Petersburg said she was concerned by “people being out of work, and my insurance is up.”

She asked how the taxpayers would feel spending the extra penny.

Hoppel said that the county is among the five counties with the lowest spending in Ohio.

To get support for the 1-percent tax, the county agreed not to collect 2 mills of property tax, an agreement that still stands.

“I don’t know of any [other] county in the state that has given back,” Hoppel said.

James Thompson of Lisbon applauded the job the commissioners are doing.

He asked if the commissioners could create an income statement that people could understand to help pass he tax renewal.

Hoppel showed a pie-chart that shows the full breakdown of county spending, but he admitted it is very difficult to read.

The commissioners said that so far this year, the county has received 57.3 percent of its revenue and spent 54.5 percent of it.

Hoppel said, “We’re not like the federal government that can print money.”

Ron Springer, who has questioned the commissioners in the past about county operations, told them, ”You do a good job.”