Austintown trustees asking voters to pass levy

By Elise Franco

AUSTINTOWN — It’s only August, but the township trustees are thinking ahead to the November election.

Trustee Lisa Oles said the board voted Monday night to pass a resolution that will put a replacement tax levy on the ballot in November.

Fiscal Officer Michael Kurish said the 0.6-mill levy would raise about $1.25 million over five years. He said township voters passed a renewal levy in November 2005 that raised $141,000 a year for the township.

This new levy will bring in an additional $250,000 a year. Both levies would bring in a total of $1.95 million over five years.

Oles said she understands that it’s not the best time to ask residents for more money, but the township is feeling the pinch, too.

“The township trustees are extremely sensitive to the economic challenges our residents are facing at the present time, and putting a levy on the ballot is the last thing we wanted to do,” she said.

“Having said that, it does not change the financial needs of the township.”

Oles said the township administration recently discussed the major reasons why a new tax levy is necessary to keep Austintown financially stable.

“The fact of the matter is our workers’ compensation rates have been raised to $117,000 per year, and with all the foreclosures in the township, we’re not collecting as much in property taxes, which is where we get most of the money to operate,” she said.

Oles also noted that the township will lose more money when the tangible personal- property tax, which brings in about $775,000 per year, is phased out by the state. Kurish said that extra income is set to cease in 2011.

Oles said if the levy is passed, residents whose homes cost $100,000 would see an increase of about $12 per year.

“We felt the cost to the homeowner would be very minimal and still affordable to most residents,” Oles said.

efranco@vindy.com